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Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Jan 5, 2015 15:54:00 GMT -6
www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=58224&utm_campaign=scarlett-johansson-to-star-in-ghost-in-the-shell&utm_medium=email&utm_source=breaking_bulletinSCARLETT JOHANSSON TO STAR IN "GHOST IN THE SHELL" Following months of rumors, Variety reports Scarlett Johansson has signed on to star in DreamWorks Pictures' adaptation of "Ghost in the Shell." The news follows a report from October that the "Avengers" and "Lucy" star had been offered $10 million to headline the film, based on Masamune Shirow’s cyberpunk manga. The studio tapped "Snow White and the Huntsman" director Rupert Sanders to helm the long-developing project in January 2014. Debuting in 1989, "Ghost in the Shell" centers on Public Security Section 9, a counter-cyberterrorist organization in near-future Japan led by Major Motoko Kusanagi. The manga inspired animated films, video games and an animated television series. DreamWorks has been trying to get the live-action film off the ground since 2008. Margot Robbie ("The Wolf of Wall Street," "Suicide Squad") was in early talks for the lead before the studio turned to Johansson, who's emerged as an in-demand action star following "Lucy" and "Captain America: The Winter Soldier." Variety notes that her involvement will help the project get a green light. Avi Arad and Steven Paul are producing "Ghost in the Shell" from a script by Bill Wheeler ("The Cape"). Mark Sourian is executive producing.
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Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Feb 18, 2015 9:40:47 GMT -6
www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=59397PETITION LAUNCHED TO REPLACE JOHANSSON IN "GHOST IN THE SHELL" Following Scarlett Johansson's casting as the lead in DreamWorks Pictures' live-action "Ghost in the Shell" adaptation, a number of fans expressed disappointment in the apparent whitewashing of the manga's lead character. One such fan has taken action and, as reported on by Anime News Network, has launched a petition calling for Johansson to be replaced in the film. The petition, which can be seen at Care2 Petitions, has received nearly 32,500 signatures since its launch. In the overview section, petition author Julie Rodriguez explains why she finds Johansson's casting problematic. The original film is set in Japan, and the major cast members are Japanese. So why would the American remake star a white actress? The industry is already unfriendly to Asian actors without roles in major films being changed to exclude them. One recent survey found that in 2013, Asian characters made up only 4.4% of speaking roles in top-grossing Hollywood films. Dreamworks could be using this film to help provide opportunities for Asian-American actors in a market with few opportunities for them to shine -- please sign the petition asking them to reconsider casting Scarlett Johansson in Ghost in the Shell and select actors who are truer to the cast of the original film! This is not the first time controversy has emerged regarding the casting of white actors in Asian roles. M. Night Shyamalan's big screen adaptation of "Avatar: The Last Airbender" was met with much disapproval from the Nickelodeon series' fans as well as creators because it cast non-Asian actors in all of the primary protagonist roles. Johansson was first rumored for the role back in October when her name surfaced in connection with the film alongside "Focus" star Margot Robbie. Johansson officially signed on as the lead in January and the film eventually snagged an April 14, 2017 release date. Johansson can next be seen as Black Widow in this May's "Avengers: Age of Ultron."
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Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Apr 30, 2015 23:45:07 GMT -6
deadline.com/2015/04/disney-moves-ghost-in-the-shell-to-march-31-2017-1201418351/Disney Moves ‘Ghost In The Shell’ Up Two Weeks Walt Disney Pictures has moved up the release of DreamWorks’ feature adaptation of Japanese manga comic Ghost In The Shell from Easter weekend — April 14, 2017 — to March 31, 2017. The pic will be released in 3D. The film, directed by Rupert Sanders and starring Scarlett Johansson will go up against Sony’s untitled Smurfs animation film. Created by Masamune Shirow, Ghost In The Shell was first published in 1989 by Kodansha, one of the largest publishing companies in Japan. It went on to generate two additional manga editions, three anime film adaptations, an anime TV series and three video games. DreamWorks released the second anime film. Ghost In The Shell follows the exploits of a member of a covert ops unit of the Japanese National Public Safety Commission that specializes in fighting technology-related crime. Deadline overheard that Johansson was offered $10M for the lead in Ghost In The Shell, given her success at the B.O. as Black Widow in the Marvel canon as well as last summer’s hit Lucy. Johansson took over after Margot Robbie left negotiations to join Warner Bros’ Suicide Squad.
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Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Dec 9, 2015 12:10:27 GMT -6
variety.com/2015/film/news/pilou-asbaek-scarlett-johansson-ghost-in-the-shell-1201637556/ Pilou Asbæk to Co-Star With Scarlett Johansson in ‘Ghost in the Shell’ Pilou Asbæk is set to co-star with Scarlett Johansson in DreamWorks’ “Ghost in the Shell,” sources tell Variety. Rupert Sanders is directing with Paramount on board to co-finance the film. Based on the internationally-acclaimed sci-fi property, “Ghost in the Shell” follows a female special ops cyborg who leads an elite task force called Section 9 for Hanka Robotics. Section 9 is devoted to stopping the most dangerous criminals and extremists, led by The Laughing Man whose singular goal is towipe out Hanka’s advancements in cyber technology. Asbæk will play Batou, the best fighter in the section and second in command in the army. The pic bows March 31, 2017. Avi Arad and Steven Paul are producing “Ghost in Shell” from a script by Jonathan Herman. Michael Costigan, Jeffrey Silver, Tetsu Fujimura, Mitsuhisa Ishikawa is exec producing. Asbæk and Johansson already have chemistry established; the two appeared together in Universal’s “Lucy.” He can be seen next as Pontius Pilate in MGM’s “Ben-Hur” and will also appear in the next season of “Game of Thrones.” He is repped by UTA, Art Management and Untitled Entertainment.
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