Production continues apace on Paramount’s Ghost in the Shell adaptation, with a new slew of set photos revealing Scarlett Johansson on the bustling streets of Hong Kong. There’s also a first look at Pilou Asbæk (Game of Thrones), who stars opposite Johansson’s cybernetic ninja as Batou. Have a gander at the pics above, via HK01 and Apple Daily.
South China Morning Post brings word that the live-action movie is currently shooting scenes across Pak Hoi Street in anticipation of its early 2017 release date, placing The Avengers star in the shoes of Major Motoko Kusanagi. Indeed, news of Johansson’s casting proved to be the cause of controversy earlier this year, with manga fans in particular accusing Rupert Sanders’ movie of whitewashing the cherished source material.
However that may be, Paramount is pushing full steam ahead with Ghost in the Shell, and it’s Johansson that takes point as the Major, a deadly human-cyborg who spearheads an elite task force known as Section 9. Elsewhere on the casting docket, there are also parts for Michael Pitt as chief antagonist The Laughing Man, Beat Takeshi Kitano as Daisuke Aramaki and Juliette Binoche as Dr. Ouelet, along with Chin Han, Danusia Samal, Lasarus Ratuere, Yutaka Izumihara, and Tuwanda Manyimo set as members of that aforementioned task force. Lastly, Wolverine and Arrow starlet Rila Fukushima recently sealed a deal to join the movie.
Rooted in a rich, evocative world of cyber terrorists and nefarious corporations, Sanders – best known for helming Snow White and the Huntsman – is delving deep into sci-fi territory with his upcoming manga adaptation and, aside from those admittedly fair complaints levelled against the core cast, we’re excited to see this one take shape.
Ghost in the Shell has been penciled in for a release on March 31, 2017.