Scarlett Johansson Offered ‘Ghost In The Shell’
WithMargot Robbielooking toget into the superhero gamewithSuicide Squad,Rupert Sanders’Ghost in the Shellis down a lead actress. So now another superheroine might take Robbie’s place.
Scarlett Johanssonhas reportedly been offered the lead role in the 3D live-action, English-language manga adaptation. Hit the jump for more on the potential Scarlett JohanssonGhost in the Shellcasting.Deadlinereports Johansson has been offered $10 million to take the part of cyborg protagonist Motoko Kusanagi. Robbie was in early talksas of a few weeks ago, but has since fallen out of the running thanks to negotiations for David Ayer’s DC Comics adaptationSuicide Squad.
The story is set in a futuristic society where technology has allowed humans to replace body parts with cybernetic gear. Some citizens including Motoko even have full-body prosthesis, with only a “cyberbrain” that retains her original soul. The downside of this technology is that it opens people up to the possibility of having their brains hijacked by hackers. Motoko is assigned to hunt down one such baddie called the Puppet Master, who implants false memories in his victims.
Bill WheelerscriptedGhost in the Shellbased onMasamune Shirow’s manga, rather thanMamoru Oshii’s 1995 film adaptation or any other video game or anime series. This new English-language live-action version has been in the works for years, but got fresh life when Sanders boarded as directorearlier this year.
The sci-fi material should be a good fit for Johansson, as not-quite-human characters seem to be her specialty as of late. Her most recent roles include a sentient OS inHer, a man-eating alien inUnder the Skin, and a superhuman inLucy. (Though of course she can still play more regular people too, as inCaptain America: The Winter Soldier,Chef, andDon Jon.) Next up for her areAvengers: Age of UltronandThe Jungle Book.
