The first full trailer for Ghost in the Shell, the live-action adaptation of the classic manga and anime series, is here. The movie sees Scarlett Johansson play The Major, a soldier with a human mind inside an android body, alongside Japanese legend “Beat” Takeshi Kitano as Chief Daisuke Aramaki.
If you were expecting a more Western-flavored movie following the accusations of whitewashing that surrounded Johansson’s casting, this trailer may surprise you. From the neon kanji and katakana signs to the threatening robot geisha, Ghost in the Shell is awash in Japanese imagery, which probably won’t do much to assuage critics of the casting choice. Producer Steven Paul previously defended the decision by saying the movie was taking an “international approach.”
The movie does look pretty visually stunning, but of course you’d hope for nothing less given the source material. As for whether the new Ghost in the Shell adds anything of significance to the franchise, we’ll have to wait until it’s released on March 31st.
The Verge
