Principal photography has commenced on GHOST IN THE SHELL, the live-action adaptation of Masamune Shirow’s acclaimed cyberpunk manga series that has Scarlett Johansson (‘Avengers: Age Of Ultron,’ ‘Lucy’) starring and Rupert Sanders (‘Snow White And The Huntsman’) directing.
GHOST IN THE SHELL, which is shooting in Wellington, New Zealand, follows the Major, a special ops, one-of-a-kind human-cyborg hybrid, who leads the elite task force Section 9. Devoted to stopping the most dangerous criminals and extremists, Section 9 is faced with an enemy whose singular goal is to wipe out Hanka Robotic’s advancements in cyber technology.
The cast of the big budget sci-fi includes Beat Takeshi Kitano (‘Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence,’ ‘Battle Royale’) as Daisuke Aramaki, Juliette Binoche (‘The English Patient,’ ‘Chocolat’) as Dr. Ouelet, Michael Pitt (‘Hannibal,’ ‘Funny Games,’ ‘Boardwalk Empire’) as Kuze, Pilou Asbæk (‘Ben-Hur,’ ‘Lucy’) as Batou, and Kaori Momoi (‘Memoirs Of A Geisha,’ ‘Hong Kong Confidential’). Members of Section 9 are played by Chin Han (‘Independence Day: Resurgence’), Danusia Samal (‘Tyrant’), Lasarus Ratuere (‘Terra Nova’), Yutaka Izumihara (‘Unbroken’) and Tuwanda Manyimo (‘The Rover’).
GHOST IN THE SHELL arrives in Irish cinemas summer 2017.