Back in April, fans got their first look atScarlett Johanssonon the set ofGhost in the Shell, as production began in New Zealand. The image raised quite a bit of controversy, with fans calling out the production for castingScarlett Johanssonas Kusanagi, a character portrayed in the original manga as a Japanese woman. While the controversy has died down somewhat in the months that followed, production still continues, and today we have a new look at the actress in costume, along with directorRupert Sanders.
The photo comes from Production I.G’sTwitter, which features the actress and director alongsideMamoru Oshii,Kenji Jamiyama, andKenji Kawaii. Production I.G. is the production company behind several of the previousGhost in the Shelladaptations, withMamoru Oshiidirecting the animated adaptationsGhost in the Shell,Ghost in the Shell 2: InnocenceandGhost in the Shell 2.0, all of which were scored byKenji Kawaii.Kenji Jamiyamaalso has a long history with the franchise, having directed the beloved animated seriesGhost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complexand the 3D animated movieGhost in the Shell S.A.C. Solid State Society 3D.
It’s possible that this photo was released to alleviate some of the fans' concerns about this live action adaptation, especially after reports surfaced that the production tried to makeScarlett Johanssonlook “moreAsian.” It doesn’t seem thatMamoru Oshii,Kenji Jamiyama, andKenji Kawaiiare involved in the production in any official capacity, but their endorsement could go a long way towards building up support for this adaptation before it hits theaters next year. Just last week, producerSteven PauldefendedcastingactressScarlett Johnasson, while revealing that she will not be known as Kusunagi, and simply a character called “The Major.”
The story centers on The Major, a special ops cyborg who leads acounter-cyberterroristorganization called Public Security Section 9 for Hanka Robotics. The Major and her team will set out to stop some of the most dangerous criminals in the world, led by the extremist The Laughing Man, played bySam Riley. This villain will stop at nothing to destroy the Hanka organization and the man’s advancements in cyber technology.
The supporting cast also includesPilou Asbaek,Rila Fukushima,Michael Pitt,Peter FerdinandoandJuliette Binoche.Rupert Sandersdirects from a script byJonathan Herman, based onMasamune Shirow’s original Kodansha Comics manga. The adaptation is currently set for release on July 30, 2025, so stay tuned for more updates onGhost in the Shell. In the meantime, take a look at this new set photo below.
