Scarlett Johansson wanted for live action Ghost in the Shell film

[Casual Shinji]

Scarlett Johansson is a bad choice, not because she's a in any way a bad actress, but because she's just too darn attractive and "round" for the part.

Going strictly by the first movie here, Mokoto Kusanagi was never played up as some sexy robot. You might say 'Well, what about all those times the movie shows her naked', but this was all in service of showing how cold and inhuman she is. This may sound like a weak excuse, but seriously, go watch the first movie again and you'll see none of the nude scenes have a hint of eroticism about them. They're all shot and lit in a way to emphasize Mokoto's mannequin-like physique; One that is physically ideal, but devoid of warmth and life.

A better choice would be like a younger Tilda Swinton (no offense to her).

 

[Gordon_4_v1legacy]

We already have a ghost in the shell film. It's called The Matrix.

The Matrix shares superficial trappings with Ghost in the Shell; once you get past that they are totally different - starting with the simple fact that in Ghost in the Shell, humanity is still rolling on and not in some retarded post apocalyptic struggle against Squidbots.

Scarlett Johansson is a bad choice, not because she's a in any way a bad actress, but because she's just too darn attractive and "round" for the part.

Going strictly by the first movie here, Mokoto Kusanagi was never played up as some sexy robot. You might say 'Well, about all those times the movie shows her naked', but this was all in service of showing how cold and inhuman she is. This may sound like a weak excuse, but seriously, go watch the first movie again and you'll see none of the nude scenes have a hint of eroticism about them. They're all shot and lit in a way to emphasize Mokoto's mannequin-like physique; One that is physically ideal, but devoid of warmth and life.

A better choice would be like a younger Tilda Swinton (no offense to her).

The both of you are running off one assumption: that the live action film will be adapted from Mamoru Oshii's film. What about directly from the Manga, or indeed the well regarded tv show Stand Alone Complex?

Movie:

Manga:

Stand Alone Complex (seen here with one of the many tanks Section 9 owns that spend their time talking philosophy or blowing shit up):

Same name; but as I understand it, three very different directions for the character. Hell in SAC 2nd Gig, she (jokingly) propositions a teenager - this woman has a sense of humour and is well aware of her body's beauty. She also might be gay, it's kind of unclear.

 

[Zontar]

Scarlett Johansson is a bad choice, not because she's a in any way a bad actress, but because she's just too darn attractive and "round" for the part.

Going strictly by the first movie here, Mokoto Kusanagi was never played up as some sexy robot. You might say 'Well, what about all those times the movie shows her naked', but this was all in service of showing how cold and inhuman she is. This may sound like a weak excuse, but seriously, go watch the first movie again and you'll see none of the nude scenes have a hint of eroticism about them. They're all shot and lit in a way to emphasize Mokoto's mannequin-like physique; One that is physically ideal, but devoid of warmth and life.

A better choice would be like a younger Tilda Swinton (no offense to her).

The movie may not have played it up, but the show and the Manga that the movie and show are based on sure did. I think the role is fitting, it's probably going to have a decent ammount of action in it and Johansson has shown she is more then capable of pulling off a sci-fi action movie.

 

[Batou667]

We already have a ghost in the shell film. It's called The Matrix.

Did you know about Avalon? It's a live-action cyberpunk(ish) movie, with a somewhat Kusanagi-esque lead, and by Mamoru Oshii no less. At the time of release it was hailed as a fairly clear homage and/or spiritual sibling to GiTS.

A actual GiTS film? Hmm, I'd be tentatively in favour of that, although I don't think Johansson is the right lead. Although I don't think a GITS remake need be overly worried about being wall-to-wall Japanese (the manga was quite quintessentially Japanese, the anime which I presume will be the basis for the live-action was a lot more generically urban), nothing about Johannson really seems to match the character apart from being an attractive female.

Personally I'd prefer to see a lead who is at least a bit more racially ambiguous if not ethnically Japanese. Johansson also doesn't have the correct body type, and not to be cruel, but isn't she getting on a bit? A fairly important part of Major Kusanagi's persona is that due to being a full cyborg she's deceptively slightly-built and youthful-looking. Surely there are some unknown talents out there, possibly Asian or biracial, who would be a better casting choice.

 

[Ambient_Malice]

Motoko's body is basically the Stratocaster of cyborg bodies. The essence of Motoko's physical appearance is "as generic as feasibly possible."

 

[Fox12]

We already have a ghost in the shell film. It's called The Matrix.

The Matrix shares superficial trappings with Ghost in the Shell; once you get past that they are totally different - starting with the simple fact that in Ghost in the Shell, humanity is still rolling on and not in some retarded post apocalyptic struggle against Squidbots.

Scarlett Johansson is a bad choice, not because she's a in any way a bad actress, but because she's just too darn attractive and "round" for the part.

Going strictly by the first movie here, Mokoto Kusanagi was never played up as some sexy robot. You might say 'Well, about all those times the movie shows her naked', but this was all in service of showing how cold and inhuman she is. This may sound like a weak excuse, but seriously, go watch the first movie again and you'll see none of the nude scenes have a hint of eroticism about them. They're all shot and lit in a way to emphasize Mokoto's mannequin-like physique; One that is physically ideal, but devoid of warmth and life.

A better choice would be like a younger Tilda Swinton (no offense to her).

The both of you are running off one assumption: that the live action film will be adapted from Mamoru Oshii's film. What about directly from the Manga, or indeed the well regarded tv show Stand Alone Complex?

Movie:

Manga:

Stand Alone Complex (seen here with one of the many tanks Section 9 owns that spend their time talking philosophy or blowing shit up):

Same name; but as I understand it, three very different directions for the character. Hell in SAC 2nd Gig, she (jokingly) propositions a teenager - this woman has a sense of humour and is well aware of her body's beauty. She also might be gay, it's kind of unclear.

I was actually jokingly refering to the fact that, during their pitch, the wachowski brothers literally held up a copy of ghost in the Shell and said "we want to do this, but for real." I never accused them of ripping off GitS, since the only thing they have in common is that they're cyber punk. They have been accused of ripping off a comic book called The Invisibles, but since I haven't read it, I don't know if that's true. Either way, there plenty of room to explore in cyber punk, so I wouldn't mind more films like that.

 

[Mahorfeus]

I suppose I could always pick the low-hanging fruit, and ask whether this means that we will get to see her running around naked.

She isn't a terrible choice, though honestly I'd rather see a Japanese actor or at least an unknown one taking up the role. I do think that the franchise would lend itself well to a live-action adaptation, though.

 

[Fox12]

Scarlett Johansson is a bad choice, not because she's a in any way a bad actress, but because she's just too darn attractive and "round" for the part.

Going strictly by the first movie here, Mokoto Kusanagi was never played up as some sexy robot. You might say 'Well, what about all those times the movie shows her naked', but this was all in service of showing how cold and inhuman she is. This may sound like a weak excuse, but seriously, go watch the first movie again and you'll see none of the nude scenes have a hint of eroticism about them. They're all shot and lit in a way to emphasize Mokoto's mannequin-like physique; One that is physically ideal, but devoid of warmth and life.

A better choice would be like a younger Tilda Swinton (no offense to her).

Hmm, maybe, I have mixed feelings about it. I think my issue is that the film isn't internally consistent. She only gets naked when she wears that invisibility helmet, but other characters have invisibility gear too, and they don't have to get undressed. Especially if their male. The criminal at the beginning of the film would have to have a piece of camoflouge more advanced then the military. If it was like the terminator, where everyone has to undress before going back in time, I could understand, but the creators seemed to pick and choose. Then, when the show was released, they had to tone it down a bit. So the in invisibility gear was now fine with any clothing, but the main character was now wearing a leotard. I guess this could be a shout out to the manga, but they changed so many other things that it seems strange to have kept that. I still think the story was interesting, but I could never really see the nudity as anything but fan service.

I do see what you mean about them emphasizing the coldness of her personality, though. It captures her "otherness."

 

[Major_Tom]

I'm more concerned with the choice of director. Why can't we get Oshii to direct it?

 

[Casual Shinji]

Hmm, maybe, I have mixed feelings about it. I think my issue is that the film isn't internally consistent. She only gets naked when she wears that invisibility helmet, but other characters have invisibility gear too, and they don't have to get undressed. Especially if their male. The criminal at the beginning of the film would have to have a piece of camoflouge more advanced then the military. If it was like the terminator, where everyone has to undress before going back in time, I could understand, but the creators seemed to pick and choose. Then, when the show was released, they had to tone it down a bit. So the in invisibility gear was now fine with any clothing, but the main character was now wearing a leotard. I guess this could be a shout out to the manga, but they changed so many other things that it seems strange to have kept that. I still think the story was interesting, but I could never really see the nudity as anything but fan service.

I do see what you mean about them emphasizing the coldness of her personality, though. It captures her "otherness."

I think it all has to do with navigating through the tone of the comic which was a lot more sexual. When you think about it, the hoodlum turning fully invisible didn't make much sense either since his legs and hands are left exposed in that jacket.

I don't know much about the manga, but when you look at panels of it, and especially the coloured ones, there's really a lot of warmth and life to it. And I think Oshii intentionally drained the movie of this so that in each frame you could feel the cold and synthetic nature of this world. Including Makoto's physical appearance. By the way, I'm not talking about the butchered 2.0 version where they replaced so much of the traditional animation with CG and turned the cool blue colour scheme into chrome.

I'm not even that much of a fan of this movie eventhough I do respect it a great deal -- Oshii's films are hard to sit through without getting terribly drowsy.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Personally I'd have liked to see Rinko Kikuchi play Motoko Kusanagi. I think she'd be really good in the role. Or is having a Japanese actor play her too crazy?

Spoiler

Not a terrible choice though, Scarlett Johnson was really good as Black Widow which isn't a disimilar role. Still pessimistic about the quality of the film though. But never know, it might surprise me.

Intially I have no problem having Scarlett being the Major (the whole whitewash doesn't bother me) however upon seeing these photos of her-

Spoiler

Spoiler

Yeash, I can see her being the Major more than Scarlett. Also I can pretty much see the Wachowskis directing it aswell.

 

[MatParker116]

Personally I'd have liked to see Rinko Kikuchi play Motoko Kusanagi. I think she'd be really good in the role. Or is having a Japanese actor play her too crazy?

Spoiler

Not a terrible choice though, Scarlett Johnson was really good as Black Widow which isn't a disimilar role. Still pessimistic about the quality of the film though. But never know, it might surprise me.

Intially I have no problem having Scarlett being the Major (the whole whitewash doesn't bother me) however upon seeing these photos of her-

Spoiler

Spoiler

Yeash, I can see her being the Major more than Scarlett. Also I can pretty much see the Wachowskis directing it aswell.

Given the nature of the major why the hell not both?

 

[briankoontz]

Scarlett Johansson is a bad choice, not because she's a in any way a bad actress, but because she's just too darn attractive and "round" for the part.

Going strictly by the first movie here, Mokoto Kusanagi was never played up as some sexy robot. You might say 'Well, what about all those times the movie shows her naked', but this was all in service of showing how cold and inhuman she is. This may sound like a weak excuse, but seriously, go watch the first movie again and you'll see none of the nude scenes have a hint of eroticism about them. They're all shot and lit in a way to emphasize Mokoto's mannequin-like physique; One that is physically ideal, but devoid of warmth and life.

A better choice would be like a younger Tilda Swinton (no offense to her).

I disagree that Scarlett Johansson is a bad choice. Ideally she would be taller and more physically imposing since she's supposed to have a cyborg body, but Under the Skin shows that she can play a character who struggles with (her) humanity.

 

[Tsun Tzu]

I'm not into it at all, personally.

She's attractive, certainly, but all I'm going to think while I'm watching her in the part is... "Oh, hey. It's ScarJo."

A good actress, preferably asian, who can pull this off would be miles better, imo.

Personally I'd have liked to see Rinko Kikuchi play Motoko Kusanagi. I think she'd be really good in the role. Or is having a Japanese actor play her too crazy?

Spoiler

Not a terrible choice though, Scarlett Johnson was really good as Black Widow which isn't a disimilar role. Still pessimistic about the quality of the film though. But never know, it might surprise me.

Intially I have no problem having Scarlett being the Major (the whole whitewash doesn't bother me) however upon seeing these photos of her-

Spoiler

Spoiler

Yeash, I can see her being the Major more than Scarlett. Also I can pretty much see the Wachowskis directing it aswell.

This. Mako Mori all the damned way.

 

[SacremPyrobolum]

Live action adaptations of anime? When will they learn!

 

[EternallyBored]

Live action adaptations of anime? When will they learn!

Hey now, Edge of Tomorrow was alright, although I'm not sure that same method would work with GITS, EOT was alright largely because it stripped everything down to the basic plot premise, i.e. time-looping to fight aliens in power armor, so it basically built off the light novel as an inspiration and only bare-bones plot skeleton.

The problem with using GITS is that its a much more established series, and it's already a series inspired by Western philosophy and rebuilt for Japanese audiences, as many of the themes were admitted by the author to have been inspired by the works of Arthur Koestler, and the title is actually directly named similar to one of his works, "The Ghost in the Machine". So Western audiences have already seen other works inspired by Koestler's writing, which is going to make a total Westernized remake look closer to a Bladerunner spinoff than the source it draws from. It would make a westernized remake seem like a cheap attempt to attach a name to a movie with little resemblance to its source materiel simply in order to draw an already established fanbase in.

Of course, it's too soon to judge the movie itself, but the director, and premise do not fill me with hope. Despite the promises of Hoplon, I've seen quite a few screenplays that work well on paper but turn into a disaster in the actual filming process.

 

[FPLOON]

Well, best case scenario is that this remake would be like Maleficent, kinda, in that the movie's okay in its own right outside of Scarlett Johansson, who completely steals the show through her role as this movie's Major...

Other than that, I feel like something is missing in all this... I just can't put my prosthetic finger on it...

Personally I'd have liked to see Rinko Kikuchi play Motoko Kusanagi. I think she'd be really good in the role. Or is having a Japanese actor play her too crazy?

Spoiler

Dammit! Why didn't think of that beforehand, especially if this remake's going to try be as "close" to the original movie as possible while still doing it's own thing a la Edge of Tomorrow and/or The Matrix?

 

[MatParker116]

I'm more concerned with the choice of director. Why can't we get Oshii to direct it?

Because outside of Brad Bird animation directors haven't transitioned to live action that well plus Oshii's style wouldn't transition well to Hollywood. Don't get me wrong I'd rather Spielberg or James Cameron direct this than Sanders. But then saying that the Russo brothers pre cap efforts kind of sucked.

 

[Gordon_4_v1legacy]

We already have a ghost in the shell film. It's called The Matrix.

The Matrix shares superficial trappings with Ghost in the Shell; once you get past that they are totally different - starting with the simple fact that in Ghost in the Shell, humanity is still rolling on and not in some retarded post apocalyptic struggle against Squidbots.

Scarlett Johansson is a bad choice, not because she's a in any way a bad actress, but because she's just too darn attractive and "round" for the part.

Going strictly by the first movie here, Mokoto Kusanagi was never played up as some sexy robot. You might say 'Well, about all those times the movie shows her naked', but this was all in service of showing how cold and inhuman she is. This may sound like a weak excuse, but seriously, go watch the first movie again and you'll see none of the nude scenes have a hint of eroticism about them. They're all shot and lit in a way to emphasize Mokoto's mannequin-like physique; One that is physically ideal, but devoid of warmth and life.

A better choice would be like a younger Tilda Swinton (no offense to her).

The both of you are running off one assumption: that the live action film will be adapted from Mamoru Oshii's film. What about directly from the Manga, or indeed the well regarded tv show Stand Alone Complex?

Movie:

Manga:

Stand Alone Complex (seen here with one of the many tanks Section 9 owns that spend their time talking philosophy or blowing shit up):

Same name; but as I understand it, three very different directions for the character. Hell in SAC 2nd Gig, she (jokingly) propositions a teenager - this woman has a sense of humour and is well aware of her body's beauty. She also might be gay, it's kind of unclear.

I was actually jokingly refering to the fact that, during their pitch, the wachowski brothers literally held up a copy of ghost in the Shell and said "we want to do this, but for real." I never accused them of ripping off GitS, since the only thing they have in common is that they're cyber punk. They have been accused of ripping off a comic book called The Invisibles, but since I haven't read it, I don't know if that's true. Either way, there plenty of room to explore in cyber punk, so I wouldn't mind more films like that.

Well I knew that they'd drawn inspiration from Ghost in the Shell, Akira and Ninja Scroll (though God knows why) and specifically asked Laurence Fishbourne to watch them prior to filming. I also heard a lot of chatter that they'd pinched a shitload of the brain upload stuff from a novel called The Neuromancer.