The live action adaptation of Ghost in the Shell is facing controversy after its alleged whitewashing, but we have to admit, we’re pretty excited to see the film. The trailers promise gorgeous visuals and lots of action, which make it more exciting as the premiere draws near. Now, it looks like we have something to tide us over, because Dreamworks just released the first five minutes of the film.
Watch it below:
The clip starts with Scarlett Johansson as the Major, standing on the roof of a skyscraper in Japan. We are then introduced to a futuristic Japan, one where old-school neon lights blend with giant holograms. It reaches its halfway mark, then mayhem reigns supreme: robotic geisha and hitmen attack a private dinner at a hotel. As expected, it is glorious.
The live-adaptation will star Scarlett Johansson, Pilou Asbæk, Michael Pitt, Takeshi Kitano, Chin Han, Lasarus Ratuere, and Juliette Binoche.
The casting of Johansson as the Major drew criticism from fans who accused the producers of whitewashing the film by hiring a white actress to play an Asian role. However, Sam Yoshiba, director of the international business division at Kodansha, the company that owns the rights to the franchise, said, “Looking at her career so far, I think Scarlett Johansson is well cast. She has the cyberpunk feel. And we never imagined it would be a Japanese actress in the first place… This is a chance for a Japanese property to be seen around the world.”
Ghost in the Shell will premiere on March 31, 2017.
Are you excited for the live-action adaptation of Ghost in the Shell? Share your thoughts below!
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