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Oshii Calls Hollywood Film the 'Most Gorgeous Ghost in the Shell Yet'

Paramount Pictures' Japanese YouTube channel began streaming an on-set video for the live-action Ghost in the Shell film on Thursday. In the video, Ghost in the Shell anime film director Mamoru Oshii says, "I think there is no doubt that [this live-action film] will become the most gorgeous work made in Ghost in the Shell yet." The video also features comments from the live-action film's director Rupert Sanders and star Scarlett Johansson.

In addition, Oshii said, "Rupert is making his version of the story." The Hollywood film's staff had invited Oshii and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex television anime director Kenji Kamiyama to the set in Hong Kong.

Oshii complemented Johansson's performance as Major and said, "She is becoming the role more than I imagined." He continued, "In the Major there is a ferocious and belligerent side, but she is also tormented by anxiety. Even though she is not completely human, she is also not completely a robot. Scarlett is able to express that in her eyes. She is quite close to the character I depicted."

Sanders and the film's cast also discussed the film at its world premiere in Tokyo on March 16.

DreamWorks and Paramount are co-financing and co-producing the film. Paramount Pictures is the film's new distributor, after DreamWorks ended its distribution deal with Walt Disney Pictures. The film is slated for release on March 31. Principal photography began in Wellington, New Zealand in January 2016.

The film's Japanese title is "Ghost in the Shell" in the phonetic katakana alphabet, instead of the "Kōkaku Kidōtai" title in kanji (攻殻機動隊) that is the Japanese title of the other works in the franchise in Japan. The film will open in Japan on April 7. The film's Japanese dub will feature Atsuko Tanaka, Akio Ohtsuka, and Kouichi Yamadera reprising their roles as the Major, Batou, and Togusa, respectively.

Scarlett Johansson stars in the film as the Major, and Pilou Asbæk (Lucy) plays Batou. Director, comedian, and actor Beat Takeshi (also known as Takeshi Kitano) plays the Public Security Section 9 founder and chief Daisuke Aramaki. Michael Pitt (Boardwalk Empire) plays the villain Kuze, who has a vendetta against the Hanka Corporation.

French actress Juliette Binoche (2014's Godzilla, The English Patient, Chocolat) plays Dr. Ouelet, and Kaori Momoi (Sukiyaki Western Django, Memoirs of a Geisha, Helter Skelter) and Rila Fukushima (The Wolverine) also have roles in the film. The actors for the other Section 9 task force members are as follows: Lasarus Ratuere (Terra Nova) as Ishikawa, Tawanda Manyimo (The Rover) as Borma, Yutaka Izumihara (Unbroken) as Saito, Danusia Samal (Tyrant) as Ladriya, and Chin Han (Independence Day: Resurgence) as Togusa.

Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman) is directing the film. Jonathan Herman (Straight Outta Compton) reworked the earlier drafts of the script written by William Wheeler (Hoax, The Reluctant Fundamentalist) and Jamie Moss (Street Kings). Weta Workshop and its co-founder Richard Taylor are working on the film.

Additional staff members include cinematographer Jess Hall (The Spectacular Now), editor Neil Smith (Snow White and the Huntsman), production designer Jan Roelfs (Fast & Furious 6), and costume designers Kurt Swanson and Bart Mueller (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay).

Source: Anime! Anime! (Katsunori Takahashi)