Cyberpunk Review » Ghost in the Shell: A Live Action Movie???

January 23, 2007

Ghost in the Shell: A Live Action Movie???

Ghost in the Shell Screencap

 

Kovacs in the Meatspace ran across this gem: Variety is reporting that Production I.G. has acquired rights from publisher Kodansha to sell feature anime “Ghost in the Shell,” for live-action remake:

 

TOKYO — Toon house Production I.G. has acquired rights from publisher Kodansha to sell feature toon “Ghost in the Shell,” for live-action remake, according to toon house sources.

Kodansha published the “Ghost in the Shell” manga by Masamune Shirow in 1989. Production I.G. then made it into a cult hit animated feature in 1995.

The toon house also produced the “Ghost in the Shell” feature follow-up “Innocence” and the animated TV series “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex,” both of which have been widely distribbed abroad.

Production I.G. will rep the original rights holders and rights users in negotiations with the Hollywood majors interested in remaking the toon as a live-action pic for the world market.

This is not a first for the toon house, which distributed “Innocence” abroad and negotiated with DreamWorks for a remake deal. It also is partnering with Cartoon Network to produce the TV toon series “IGPX.”

But the agent deal is unusual in Japan, where it is more common for TV networks, ad agencies and trading houses to rep local toons overseas.

Production I.G. has ample international experience, however. especially with “Ghost in the Shell.” The seminal toon, about the merging of humankind with the Internet bit stream, was instrumental in boosting interest in anime worldwide.

 

Notice it says “rights to sell.” This seems to mean we might be finding ourselves with a low-budget T&A version of GITS. While we might end up with something magical, I’m far more concerned about the possibilities for a disaster. Please, please, if there is a God, lets pray that Michael Bay is NOT a GITS fan!

This post has been filed under Upcoming Movies by SFAM.

Comments

January 24, 2007

Vesper said:

That is the best news ever! At the same time, the worst :D The cast, the director, the F/X… Damn! So many things to discuss about now ;)

Kovacs, thanks for sharing this GEM, indeed :)

January 28, 2007

Case said:

They already did a live-action “Ghost in the Shell.” It was called “The Matrix.”

SFAM said:

Hi Case, I don’t remember any nakid, but invisible hawt chicks in the Matrix. As I recall, the hawt chicks in the Matrix were wearing black shiny stuff!

January 30, 2007

gtrfrost said:

Hmm GITS live action. One half of me say’s cool more GITS content. The other half says what is wrong with the original. The only thing they can do is stuff it up.
Ok ok I admit I like the original and I admit who cares it they stuff it up. I guess for them it is an attempt to plug into the prejudging “people who don’t watch cartoons” market with something they know is a winner.

January 31, 2007

SFAM said:

Hi qtrfrost, I get your reasoning on the “people who don’t watch cartoons” thing, but in this case, I think there’s something more basic at work - everything associated with GITS flat out turns to gold. Clearly its in their interest to milk it. The built-in audience is massive at this point.

February 2, 2007

gtrfrost said:

Also alot will hing on how they do the head exploding scene :P

March 11, 2007

Bruce Darren Acosta said:

GHOST IN THE SHELL AND NINJA SCROLL LIVE ACTION FILMS.

Just as thought that Ghost In The Shell movie is going to the big screen they will get the Hollywood screenwriters to the script for the movie.
Ninja Scroll was set to be a live action movie by Lawrence Kasanoff/Threshold Entertainment Productions (Mortal Kombat) but it has been cancelled.
Threshold will do the writing credits for Ninja Scroll as they will get the rights back in.
Ninja Scroll will be one hell of a good movie with techno beats,rock on
See Ya.
BRUCE ACOSTA
AUSTRALIA.

SFAM said:

Hi Bruce, as much as I love Ninja Scroll, I cannot imagine Hollywood doing anything but making a complete mess out of that anime. I have a hard time imagining anything worse than a Mortal Kombat version of Ninja Scroll. Thank our lucky stars it was canceled!

March 13, 2007

1canfly said:

Great news! Go for it, Uwe Boll!

SFAM said:

Oh God, Uwe Boll, ey? Lets not.

September 28, 2007

blueifre said:

make it a movie!!!1 everybody love it…im sure!!!

October 5, 2007

CARLOS OLIVERA said:

i wonder who’s gonna be the actress that’d be perfect for the role of Major Motoko Kusanagi?

Christopher Lambert seems perfect for the role of Batou. right? ther can be only one. and he’s the man for job. i think.

October 7, 2007

Hattori said:

meh… I’m so used to see the characters speaking japanese and to the japanese voice actors I can hardly imagine the hollywood version of it.
The problem is, with anime most of the main characters all look western, so if you see a live action movie all with japanese actors then you’re reaction is “wtf why are all these asians here?”.
The perfect GITS live action movie? Get somehow a good western actress that may resemble Motoko and speak japanese. All the others characters could be asian IMO. Oh… and the setting of the first movie, wich is awesome.

Of course, we’d be lucky if hollywood gets half of this right, not to mention the plot itself.

November 7, 2007

Kurogane_Otaku said:

Lets pray they never make a live action movie from GITS…I’m a great fan. If they make a live action version, its going to be a disaster…

November 8, 2007

Anthony L. said:

it will be stupid if they make it a live action movie. what is wrong with GITS innocence

Evan T. said:

yeah i dont know if there is any way to make it good.
Hmmm, maybe Elijah Wood as Batou, Scarlett Johansson as Kusanagi. Hollywood already gave this their best, and it was called the MATRIX.

project_2501 said:

elijah wood as batou? i somehow can’t imagine the guy who played a hobbit coming across convincingly as a huge, muscular cyborg… anyway, i think a live action movie is the sign that GITS has expanded too much.

GITS really can’t handle the hollywood treatment, or rather hollywood cant handle GITS. For an example of a holllywood remake of an asian film that simplifies the plot and makes it more generic, just watch the ring

November 9, 2007

Blaze one said:

This movie will suck… unless Peter Jackson directs it.

November 10, 2007

Kurogane_Otaku said:

*points up*
The movie will suck, even if Peter Jackson directs it…Its has to remain a manga and an anime…Hollywood will make a mess out of it…

November 13, 2007

Evan T. said:

I think the only way it could be at all cool, is if they made it EXACTLY like the original. so then whats the point. the first one was perfect.

November 17, 2007

dardo said:

well, i think……sorry, i hope hollywood do not change japan for a wester scenary.

December 3, 2007

eliadae said:

It could work, but it must be very carefully made. The writers would do well to distance themselves from the content of all previous GITS storylines, however. The two most important qualities of GITS film adaptations are 1) maintaining the integrity of the original manga’s aesthetic 2) providing a badass hero/heroin that fights cybercrime. If Hollywood tried to directly copy characters and plots from previous GITS renditions things would be likely fail miserably for the reasons stated above (not in Japanese, terrible casting, etc.). They would do better to find someway to transfer the crimes of a perpetrator Section 9 was investigating to an American city, where one would be free to develop new plotlines consistent with mangas original idea. Example: have a copycat of Kusanagi’s ghost appear in a prostitute in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Take it from there…

January 5, 2008

Diego said:

how bout you make the movie I watch it and if it sucks it stays in the back of my dvd collection. good plot beautiful action scenes and a 2hr run time period

wiredcoma said:

There hasn’t been any news on this movie in the past year. I have a feeling this movie is going to go the way of the live action Akira movie… as in not.

January 7, 2008

Dragyn said:

Wasn’t James Cameron going to do Battle Angel Alita? Should he be allowed that close to another single female? Wonder how Jessica Alba escaped unscathed?
Anyway, as for a live action GITS, sure it’s a disaster waiting to not happen, but how about Maggie Q as Kusanagi? Hell, way back when, I thought Christina Ricci would have been perfect for Alita! (this was mid-nineties, folks)
The best actor for Batou? Remember Clancy Brown? Too old now, I guess. Too bad Ron Perlman is stuck playing Hellboy. He would have been a good choice.

January 13, 2008

wiredcoma said:

he still is doing Battle Angel. Suposidly, the girl will be all digital, like golem (sp?) in lotr.

January 23, 2008

Da Rude said:

I believe that to make this a good live action version of GITS you would need someone who could write a story and screenplay like Blade Runner (maybe Hampton Fancher himself). I think Blade Runner has a similar feel to it. Then get the Wachowski brothers who made the Matrix behind this movie since they made a great job of making a manga into a live action movie. And maybe add to it all the Ang Lee (Crouching tiger hidden dragon) since he was able to sell a Chinese movie to the world and make it a great success. Plus to stay true to the GITS it has to be filmed in Japan.

SFAM said:

Hi Da Rude, I fully agree that this “could” make a live action version, but the question is “will it?” This is far from clear right now.

And WiredComa/Dragyn, Cameron decided to do a movie called “Avatar” prior to doing Battle Angel.

January 26, 2008

StrangeCat said:

stop bring up the Matrix only the first movie was good and the fighting was horrible!
Vendetta was GOod!

I agree with Blade Runner (that is a classic) they will need a very good script writer and they will need a very good Director. Then there going to need Kenji Kawai! To compose the Score.
Just hope they don’t go over board with CGI !!!

February 15, 2008

ian said:

i love GITS but so far every live action fil thats based on an anime suks so im not gonna hold my breath to c another spectacular GITS i hope they make another anime film or a 3rd gig to SAC

hollywood dont no how to do liveaction films from anime they messed up deathnote they are gonna mess up dragonball z and now they gonna messup GITS they need shoting for ruinung so meny good anime.

ANIME IS SUPOSED TO BE ANIMATION THATS WHY ITS CALLED ANIME NOT FUKIN ANIMATION THATS GONNA BE FUKED UP BY HOLLYWOOD !!!!!

ANIME MAKERS NEED TO LISTEN TO FANS AND NOT SELL THE RIGHTS TO THEIR ANIME WHEN THEY CAN ALWAYS MAKE ANOTHER SERIES OR FILM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

just my opinion but i no alot of fans that think the same

February 19, 2008

CARLOS OLIVERA said:

better hire an asian actress for the role of Motoko. it just would not work if an american girl will appear as Motoko. an actress with a very high asian decent is greatly needed for the job. it’ll be hard. looking for that woman who’s gonna live up as Major Motoko Kusanagi. but it’s important. if a beautiful, sexy, cute, young, asian actress is hired. might even surpass the original anime. without Motoko Kusanagi, there is no Ghost in the Shell.

P.S. nevermind Batou. forget him.

February 22, 2008

dragyn said:

Like I said, Maggie Q. She’s got the screen presence. Watch LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD again. Maybe Tarantino’s bitch, Michael Madsen as Batou? lol Just half kidding, actually. I’m sick of CGI. Let’s get back to basics! REAL extras! REAL explosions! The actors should have to FEEL the heat of the pyrotechnics! Wait a minute - BRUCE WILLIS as Batou! Now we’re talking. :-)

http://360.yahoo.com/night.haunter

February 29, 2008

WHISTLER said:

yeah Bruce Willis as Batou is cool! but Maggie Q. is thin. not sexy. not hot either. i’m sure there are a lot of beautiful japanese actresses out there. i prefer japanese.

March 5, 2008

spacegiggler said:

i’m almost ashamed of how much i love the whole GITS universe.
and almost more ashamed of how much thought i’ve put into the idea of a live action movie.
and i have come only one conclusion. it cannot and should not be done… in the traditional sense. it can be done in a Zemeckis “Beowulf” style.
this opens the door for unlimited possibilities as far as cast.
think about it, just a tweak on anyone’s CGI face and voila! they’re asian! yer leading man not muscular enuff? tweak, tweak… he’s freakin Arnie! your leading lady can’t actually do a triple sommersault into a flying drop kick? no problem…
my dream cast:
Motoko - Natalie Portman (think about it)
Batou - Jason Stratham (bald is the new ponytail)
Togusa - Ryan Reynolds (”smokin aces” clinched it)
Aramaiki - Danny Devito (yes. i went there)

March 29, 2008

Ansatsusha said:

for me i want to see those Tachikoma in the film if they make it

Ansatsusha said:

i just hope they dont over do it and make the film look crap in the end

April 3, 2008

Blaze one said:

Good choices, Spacegiggler!
All good actors that should be able to pull off the roles.

April 7, 2008

StrangeCat said:

They haven’t even chosen investors yet or a production house for the movie. Hell Metal Gear Solid Live Action movie is farther along*and they aren’t even sure on the director for that on*. Nothing is concrete at all about this
yet. It’s far far into the future.

someone said:

“They already did a live-action “Ghost in the Shell.” It was called “The Matrix.””, shush…

motoko is motoko… see this as a movie is think about another elektra or ultraviolet… bullshit…

April 8, 2008

Ronsmyhero said:

Truthfully, I don’t see the need for a ‘live-action’. If they want something new and inventive -persay- to milk the franchise, why don’t they do a complete CG version like they did for Final fantasy: Advent Children. Now that I would definately want to see. Personally, I would love to see more anime/video game ‘movies’ done in this format. I would have loved to see the whole Resident Evil trilogy done this way. ;)

April 11, 2008

Yuna said:

Um I kind agree with the CG part, they should make a CG film like the Final Fantasy VII Advent Children one, I mean that was a cool movie! A live action film just screams to much Hollywood for me. Meaning to much romance and not enough of the cool future sci-fi stuff we all love about GITS.

April 15, 2008

ronsmyhero said:

Exactly! Besides, the opening to GITS: Stand Alone Complex was done in the CG format and I have to say that the Major looks pretty wicked that way! :P

ian said:

to be honest i never realy liked the sac opening it kinda made the major look weird but she looks better in the sac than in the 1st fillm

April 19, 2008

Cyber9 said:

There are a few very well-known actresses that could play the Major.
Here are my suggestions for character rundowns.

Major - Angelina Jolie or Charlize Theron(She would be better)
Batou - Maybe Jason Statham or Clive Owen
Ishikawa - Phillip Seymour Hoffman or Harrison Ford
Pazu - Ryan Reynolds Definitely or Viggo Mortenson
Boma - Javier Bardem (the bad guy from No Country for Old Men)
Aramaki - Ready for this……Morgan Freeman or Jack Nicholson

April 20, 2008

CitizenZero said:

Ghost in the Shell live action made by Hollywood? Just think of the casting challenges, to really stay faithful to the manga.

The Major - Almost impossible…who can really pull that role off? Angelina Jolie is a big no! She is good looking but she hasn’t done a really GREAT movie in awhile, not since Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Batou - Who the hell can play him? Seriously. Most of the muscled hulks in Hollywood are horrible actors. Vin Diesel… I mean Arnold would be hysterical as Batou…but at the same time bring tears to my eyes because it would be so terrible.

Aramaki - This is also almost impossible. Morgan Freeman would be interesting I admit, but still not really up to par.

CitizenZero said:

About the Metal Gear Solid movie, last I heard James Cameron was chosen as director. That was on imdb awhile ago, I’m not sure if its still there.

ian said:

hello cant you see were talking bout gits here not mgs

April 24, 2008

Dave said:

I don’t know about actors, but the reason this went through was because Spielberg was pushing it.

yuna said:

Lets home this is not gonna turn out to be like Speed Racers. I have not seen the movie yet but from the trailers and what everyone is saying. it sucks lol.

April 25, 2008

StrangeCat said:

This movie ‘er script has huge backing now, Stephen Spielberg is on board. There figuring out the script, there figuring out a lot of stuff now! It’s going to have a crazy budget! Hollywood style! (good thing?)
Now let’s hope it’s not so damn Clean! Minority Report was cool though.
Also Masamune Shirow has to ok the script and the look of the film, characters locals all that.
It must be what 2 years away before it’s even completed.

April 28, 2008

Solardragon said:

Apart the fact that it’s got to do with computers and robots, the story has nothing in common…

Have you even seen ghost in the shell? lol

May 3, 2008

pn2501 said:

heres the official story via varitey…

“DreamWorks has acquired rights to the Japanese manga “Ghost in the Shell” with plans to adapt the futuristic police thriller as a 3-D live-action feature.

Story follows the exploits of a member of a covert ops unit of the Japanese National Public Safety Commission that specializes in fighting technology-related crime.

Created by Masamune Shirow, “Ghost in the Shell” was first published in 1989. It went on to generate two additional manga editions, three anime film adaptations, an anime TV series and three videogames. The second anime film, “Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, ” was released in the U.S. by DreamWorks in 2004.

Avi Arad, Ari Arad and Steven Paul of Seaside Entertainment are attached to produce and brought the project to the studio. Jamie Moss has been tapped to pen the adaptation.

Universal and Sony were also chasing “Ghost in the Shell, ” but Steven Spielberg took personal interest in the property and made it happen at DreamWorks.

” ’Ghost in the Shell’ is one of my favorite stories, ” Spielberg said. “It’s a genre that has arrived, and we enthusiastically welcome it to DreamWorks.”

DreamWorks prexy of production Adam Goodman said “Ghost in the Shell” is a property “that epitomizes 3-D live-action motion picture possibilities.”

Avi Arad is at the forefront of comicbook-based material, having produced the three “Spider-Man” films, the three “X-Men” movies, the two “Fantastic Four” picss and the upcoming “Iron Man” and “The Incredible Hulk.”

Moss’ writing credits include “Street Kings, ” which bowed Friday, and “Last Man Home, ” in development at Universal.”…..

to be honest, i think its in good hands as far as producers go (yea i know transformers was a piece of shit), i wont truly shit myself until we find out who the director is, i personally would like to see some one like Darren Aronofsky, (pi, requiem for a dream, the fountain) although this film is action orientated i think at its core its the philosophical elements that make it special.

as far as actors in this film, we shouldn’t really need to cast based on ethnicity due to the fact that most characters are cyborg and a cyborg can be any ethnicity they choose, i for one think Mickey Rouke would make a decent batou, he has that physical presence that he role demands i.e; sin city. heres a bit of photoshop to prove my point

The major is a hard one, i hear people kicking around Grace park (boomer) from Battlestar Galactica, but personally i think Tricia Helfer would be a better choice

and from years of playing a cylon she would be at home playing a cyborg!

As for the Chief Aramaki the perfect person would be Pat Morita but yeah his not around anymore :( in his steed maybe Steve Buscemi (i know weird choice) but hey check this out

Togusa, thats a hard one, but how funny would it be, if they got Keanu Reeves to play him.

May 7, 2008

Da Rude said:

pn2501 you have some good selections

Keanu Reeves: would make a great Togusa, slim and tall enough.

Tricia Helfer: never thought of her, but ya you have a great picture of her and I can well imagine her in that role now.

Battou: Vin Diesel, he would be ok, seems like a similar role as Riddick, specially after watching Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence. But Mickey Rouke could also fit the role. Just seems too old though.

But for Aramaki I’m surprised no one thought of Donald Sutherland. I think the voice and acting style seems right.

May 8, 2008

Phrie said:

I would kill myself if jolie got the part as the major. totally not the person for it…

May 24, 2008

Jenny said:

OMG Making this a LA will destroy the movie. And I will be super pissed. Then I’ll cry. PLEASE DON’T REMAKE IT!

July 1, 2008

Alcor said:

Dreamworks bought the rights, so we’re saved from a low-budget, cheap film. Unfortunately, it’s a remake of the original manga/first movie (as opposed to SAC, which I think is a lot better than the first movie plot), but I’ll still be seeing it opening night.

July 3, 2008

Tyger said:

I will KILL MYSELF is Michael Baye or any hollywood f-tard gets ahold of GitS. But I wonder one particular thing and that is what kind of theme they’re going to take with the live-action movie. Seeing as how the original two movies are so much different in tone and direction than Standalone Complex, who knows what we’ll see in the movie. More than likely it’ll end up in style and tone similar to Standalone Complex because of how much more popular SAC has been than the first two movies, sadly.

July 6, 2008

D K said:

Micheal Bay? Let’ just pray the Uwe Boll doesn’t get his hands on this!

July 29, 2008

Beth said:

Good grief I hope Michael Bay doesn’t come anywhere close to this film. He is horrible. As for the movie, it’s certainly doable but one of the biggest hurdles is to get a physically talented actress to play the part. Sure they could use stuntwomen but the actor herself must be pysically talented. Carrie Ann Moss is not too bad but she doesn’t look much like Kusanagi.

November 21, 2008

EllORen said:

I am a huge fan of GitS and would love to see a live action movie if its done right… If they screw up Major theres no way the movie will succeed. And as for the cast being all asian doesnt really matter the characters are mostly cyborg and can choose their prosthetics and whatever they want to look like. Also there better not be any super main stream hollywood actors, they just wouldnt be able to get deep enough to play the style and demeanor of the characters from gits. My suggestions would be:
Major- Holly Vance - Christie from DOA
Chief- Dustin Hoffman - I think he could handle the seriousness
Batou- Chris Jericho - yes hes from wwe but he was an actor first
Togusa- Marc Paul Gosselaar or Paul Rudd
Ishikawa- Becinio de Torro - imagine a beard and the voice

I was thinking Keanu for Pazu but i dont want to reference the matrix haha ^_^

November 22, 2008

Black Sun said:

I would like to see this turned into a Live Action without any big name actors. I think once you go down that road, it starts to turn into a Hollywood Blockbuster, and than you’ve killed GITS.

I would like as little Hollywood influence as possible. But they got the $$$.

November 23, 2008

Dave said:

hahhah!

I’ve never seen the anime, but I think this would be a good film!

November 25, 2008

Black Sun said:

Was the first Ghost in the Shell mainstream in any real way? Did it get any awards or play in theaters around the country?

I think hollywood doing it will be a disaster for fans of the original. It should be done by an independents, preferably Japanese artists so that they can be darker, edgier and more experimental with the cinematography, set design, etc.

February 26, 2009

247wkman said:

the problem from a fan perspective it that the two oshi movies had already took signifigant story plots from the comic (shiro is genius artist) 1.puppet master, 2.ghost dubbing. and the serials revisited many of these comic plots. a live action movie will need a fresh plot to hold interest or it will simply re-render same stuff in live action. i now it could look fantastic but like neon genisis, i think they may just relocate it to new new york or some such place. maybe it can be part played through an english/american protagonist visiting japan. i think james cameran should try it (ref to blurb on gits 1)

February 27, 2009

kabukiman said:

A action movie would’t be made to the fans but for the public in general. So expect some romance and probably the same story of the first movie without much of the philosophical baggage.

bishop said:

Actually, I saw GITS the movie in the theater twice. Once on a college campus, and again at a small theater down the road from my apartment in Bradford, PA.

I don’t know if I would call it ‘mainstream’, but even casual cyberpunk/sci-fi fans are probably aware of it.

As for the movie, I would love to see the wachowski bros do it. As long as they aren’t allowed to write anything, and only concern themselves with mindbending visuals, it’ll turn out great.

I’m not sure who I would trust to write the adaption to live action, though. The only person who comes to mind is William Gibson. There was an aliens sequal script floating around that was attributed to him, and I think it would have been MUCH better than the actual aliens 3.

March 30, 2009

DAVOX said:

Lesson the only girl I found Perfect For Major Motoko Kusanagi is Olga Kurylenko from 007 Quantum of Solace. She would be perfect.

April 2, 2009

westsiders2 said:

i think this is one of the worst things to do. making a ghost in the shell live action movie is like making a simpsons live action movie. it just doesn’t work and it is very hard to imagine. for starters there are only a few people in this world capable of writing a ghost in the shell script that can compare to the original and there is no actor in the world that can capture the complex characters in ghost in the shell. getting the special effects right does not make it a good movie. for those who touched on mokoto being naked in the first movie, let me emphasize that GITS is not PORN. so stop treating is like it.

in conclusion, a live action movie should not even be attempted because all you that can be achived is ether an action movie or an half-assed cyber-punk.

April 10, 2009

Revan said:

Looks wise for the major, definitly Monica Bellucci: http://cache.deadspin.com/assets/resources/2008/01/monica_bellucci.jpg

Her accent is heavy though, might ruin the role.

Rachel Leigh Cook might be good as well: http://www.hollywoodtuna.com/images/bigimages/rachael_leigh_cook_pic_8_big.jpg

April 27, 2009

dragyn said:

She’s the most beautiful woman in the world for sure but if they ever do this we need a JAPANESE major K. :-)

May 2, 2009

elijawan said:

When I first read about this I had a notion that I would feel the same way I did in 1981 when the 20th Century Fox logo faded and Long Long Ago came up on the screen. Since then reality has set in. This is going to happen and we’re not going to be happy with the result. We’re just going to have to deal with it, hope for the best and keep expectations low. As long as the visuals look like they ran Hong Kong, Tokyo and Bladerunner through a blender I’ll say it wasn’t a total loss.

And seriously, the roles can’t be turned over to SciFi channel actors, they just won’t have the presence required to fill a 70 foot screen. I want actors who demonstrate time and again that they can disappear into a role and not become the role.

Aramaki: Danny DeVito, Dustin Hoffman
Togusa: Adrian Brody
Motoko: Sigourney Weaver circa 1986 - if going for GITS, Hilary Swank- a former gymnast and track athlete, plays the tough chick pretty convincingly. If going for SAC, give Scarlett a chance maybe.

July 13, 2009

Dude486 said:

I’m with Revan on the major. I can definetly see Rachel Leigh Cook nailing this role!

July 17, 2009

Olbertus said:

The only way to make this live action (as Hollywood will see it) is to completely castrate the very Japanese feel and rename all the characters western names, which would be lame.

No way will they ever greenlight a big budgeted film where the audience have to read subtitles so the whole idea is basically doomed from the start. I would love to see a big budgeted Japanese production in live action though, now that would be a dream come true, unfortunately it won’t happen unless someone with a great deal of money is willing to underwrite it…

Sorry to be blunt but some of the suggestions about who will play what on here are laughable especially anyone but a Japanese actress playing Motoko FFS please Monica Belluci? Scarlet Johannsen?!?, this is not set in America and the second it is you may as well change the title, plot and character names and write an original American cyberpunk movie because the national mentality of each country could not be more polar opposite.

August 31, 2009

Estrella Solitaria said:

Are you kidding me???

September 8, 2009

leanime said:

lolz. i agree. although The Matrix was a GITS rip-off. I am interested in Dreamworks’ abilities at adapting anime into movies. I will, however, not get my hopes up and keep telling myself it will fail, so if it does, no surprises and if it is awesome, then I shall congratulate Dreamworks!

September 27, 2009

KOBRA said:

It’s good AND bad. For me it’s the same thing than with Warcraft. One side is “oh, great” and the other “how are they going to make this right, with so many things that could be wrong?” and “it’s not *that* cool in live-action”. If they the same effort that WB put into The Matrix (the original) it’s gonna be a bomb, and one of the best movies of all time.

KOBRA said:

The film is gonna be a DISASTER if they let some non-Masamune Shirow man write the script ( :P ) and if they put Michael Bay or Uwe Ball in the director’s chair. Also, they should film in Japan (or a heavily altered NY or LA, like they did with F&F: Tokyo Drift) and not change the names of the characters, I don’t wanna see a Katherine and a Max instead of a Motoko and a Batou. They should leave intact the phylosophy of the film, and, please, DON’T INSERT A HOLLYWOOD-STYLE ROMANCE!!!!!!!!!! YOU HEAR ME???!!!
That’s what I’d like to see in the film.

This is my casting:
*M. Motoko Kusanagi: maybe Natalie Portman, Charlize Theron, Scarlett Johanson or Maggie Q (it’s impossible to decide!!!)
*Batou: Clive Owen or (yeah!!) Bruce Willis
*Ishikawa: Tom Cruise
*Togusa: Keanu Reeves (only ’cause of the look, make him appear just 5 min in the entire movie, please)
*Aramaki: a maked-up Jack nicholson would be great, he’s not too tall and fits very well (also it would be a great acting)

Director: Paul Greengrass (Bourne 2 & 3, it would be great, he’s got that ‘experimental’ touch to the tomes, not a Hollywood cliché)

Really I don’t know what to think about it, seeing that the only good manga-adapted-to-movie are the 2 Azumis or the Death Note adaptations. And they’re Japanese though.

October 26, 2009

jafurcha said:

I just hope they don’t screw it up like G Savior. The low-budget graphics made the Gundam CG Models look horrible, although judging by the mobile suit concept lineart that came out for the movie it could have been great.

Also a live action “GUNNM: Battle Angel Alita” was supposed to be made but that did not happen, unless it is still pending.

February 3, 2010

Calvin Burrell said:

Who Can play the major?

February 8, 2010

Zola said:

Whaaa-haaat!?
How the hell did you connect these ppl?!
Elijah Wood as Batou? A blond, brutish, buffed-up, rough-faced cyborg?!
S.Johansson as Motoko?! …
…please sir, get off the drugs, hallucinations are getting too strange…
A plausible (just a suggestion) choice might be Peter Stormare - He’s a good actor, resembles Batou a bit, 1.90m tall, has a huge expirience, lived in Tokyo, and is in the focus because of the Prison Break series.

As for Major…a rly tough one :(
Rinko Kikuchi has talent, recently worked with Mamoru Oshii (on a terrible film, but whatever), and is privately a sportish girl (Is skilled in sword-fighting, an accomplished motorcyclist and horseback rider)
Still, she looks nothing like the Major :/

February 17, 2010

Cannibal said:

This has to stop… Ghost in the Shell was a breakthrough film and has become a cult classic. I know Hollywood has no imagination or good writers anymore, but why do they have to make crap versions of anime/manga CP/Sci-fi? Anime and Manga are one of the richest sources of intelligent cyberpunk/Sci-fi out there, so its a ripe taqrget for the big studios, but are live action adaptions EVER worth even watching?? Speed Racer, DragonBall Evolution, the list of atrosities goes on and on. So now its Ghost in the Shell; Along with AKRIA (starring Leonardo Dicapreo), Robotech (starring Toby McGuire) and Cowboy Bebop (Starring Keanu Reeves).
Why cant Hollywood make more original CP/Sci-fi movies or book adaptations? Im hoping the Live action adaptation of Neuromancer is good; I fear I may go Unibommer on Hollywood studios if disipointed.

Cannibal

February 21, 2010

Cogitoergozoom said:

Possible castings:
Daisuke Aramaki - John Hurt from Hellboy is a fairly close match.
Batou - Kevin Nash”The Russian” from “The Punisher”.
Saito - Jason Statham

February 22, 2010

Zola said:

John Hurt is a terrific actor, and why not, a possibility…still, visually i vote for Yakusho Koji or Takakura Ken…would be strange seeing a caucasian Aramaki :))

Kevin Nash is not an actor. Period. He is a wrestler and a fake one. Batou should be a character actor, not just a buffed guy ;)

Jason Statham? A reasonable choice. Quite plausible, actually.

February 24, 2010

Cogitoergozoom said:

I was just trying for the closest matches looks-wise. John Hurt definitely had the hair-do going that looked like Aramaki and is a little similar in the face.
Kevin Nash is just the first face I pictured. I’ve never seen him in anything else so I figured he probably don’t have the acting skills.

Thought of a possibility for Togusa plus he has the acting chops also. Nathan Fillion from Serenity ressembles Togusa halfway
Still haven’t figured out anyone good for Motoko. Thought maybe Olivia Wilde or Bridget Moynahan but noone with a close resemblance yet.
Do you think the people making the movie are checking out this link for ideas?

February 25, 2010

Zola said:

Hah, i would really like that someone there was seeing ANY of the links that comment on the movie-to-be - i really don’t want to see “scarlet johansson & Tom Cruise….etc.” as the main actors - think about the audience that loves the original :(

I’ve done my share of research (too much free time atm :D) - check out Peter Stormare for example ;) I can see u gave a good shot too. So i hope someone from the creators sees such “plausible suggestions” too, doesn’t have to be here.

Point? Just take a look at The Transformers & Dragonball LAM o_0 Epic Fail reinvented…

Don’t forget freakin’ Leo Di Caprio as a possible Akira?!?! Akira, for crying out loud!!! Is there any connection whatsoever?!?!

February 26, 2010

Sembeisee said:

Jim asked him once. Thats what I mean, James. He answered quietly, gravely, No. She looked at him blankly. Quite a brilliant achievement—as far as technology is concerned. But I cant issue a public denial! she asked, her voice low. It has ceased to disturb me, long ago.

March 2, 2010

Ferret said:

I think that in order for Hollywood to make GITS without screwing it all up is to hire a bunch of currently unknown actors, writers, directors, etc… and have them all sit down with the original creators for a few weeks simply discussing where GITS has been, where it could go, and where they want it to go. There would have to be massive cooperation on a level that hasn’t been seen in decades. After they all have decided what they want to do with the franchise they need to really take their time with it. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but if they really put thought and effort into it they could make something that the long time fans would appreciate and also draw in some new ones. But that’s just my opinion…

Zola said:

Just yours and a nice one it is! :)

Alas, this would be my “almost perfect scenario”, but we’re talking Hollywood here, you know the one that destroyed a billion scripts/original works with great potential…? :))

I truely believe in your opinion with a small remark - not uknown, but independent cinema known/theater known, character actors - like the ones in, for example some BBC/HBO documentaries, etc..

Still, unfortunately that’s highly unlikely…just as e.g. hiring Chris Cunningham as the director…

March 6, 2010

Cogitoergozoom said:

May have found Pazu. What do you think of Jackie Earle Haley for the role. We’re getting closer. Four more and they can start shooting the movie. ha ha

March 7, 2010

Cogitoergozoom said:

Noticed a dvd coming out soon called “Hard Revenge Milly” that has an actress in it by the name Nao Nagasawa. Anyone else see Motoko there?

March 8, 2010

Zola said:

Jackie Earl Haley? Nice one. recently finished Freddy Krueger so he’s in the spotlight. Strong face, just as Pazu.

Nao Nagasawa? Would be nice having her but not in a movie :D
Srsly, japanese call this “actress” but they also have a term “real actor/actress”….this is just a gravure idol, swimsuit model, etc. No acting talent whatsoever..

Something came to my mind - Motoko is a cyborg, right? So she is not asian actually, just place of her creation. So they aren’t actually bound only to asian actresses :) I had Kate Beckinsale in mind since she’s done well with “Underworld” :)

So, Cogitoergozoom, when are we filming this? :)))

March 10, 2010

Cogitoergozoom said:

I don’t know when their filming this movie but I do wish they’d take their foot off the brake. Seems like I heard about this years ago and still nothing.
Now if they’d check out this site, there are some good ideas for actors here. All we need is actors for Motoko, Batou, Ishikawa and Borma and we’re ready to go. I to thought of Kate Beckinsale but never have been truely sold on her. I’ve also seen the suggestions for Batou but not sold on them either. They really need someone built like a tank for that role.

March 11, 2010

Zola said:

Well, guess they’re still waiting for our final cast order :D

As for Batou - exactly my reason for mentioning Peter Stormare, he’s 191cm tall, but a very versatile actor and an experienced one. You can’t just take a buffed guy here :) Also, he lived in Japan and has a Japanese wife so he has some connection to the mentality.
http://www.fanpop.com/spots/peter-stormare/images/2695834/title/peter-stormare has a picture album of his, so u can see how much he can change for the specific role…

Of course, Motoko is the toughest pick, deffinitely :/

March 22, 2010

Ferret said:

I thought Mickey Rourke might do well as Batou…just a thought.

April 6, 2011

ava8harrierusmc1 said:

Ok guys but what if there is a sort of Stand alone complex in some sort of form or maybe there are people able to do what the people of the stand alone complex can do with their minds how would you feel about that would you imbrace it or would want to be a part of that would. Do any of you understand what life would really be like. Wou7ld you conform to others that try to tell you what you are not to think in your mind would you conform to someone who may say that the feelings thye thoughts that you have in your head are not what they want to hear. who you conform to the group or would you live your life the way you think it is surpose to be or would you let others control you. But what if the future is already here. Go back over the the shows and look for the Japan nuke part then look at what is happening today make a list of the wars that were fought on the show and look at what is happening today. Just look and open your eyes is all I’m saying!

ava8harrierusmc1 said:

it is here already people and I think some of you already know this but won’t talk about it!

May 11, 2011

DragonKhan said:

Whatz holding up Production…? IT’s the Producers since they have yet to open up a Production Office! My big concern is who they get to Play the main Characters…and also that they don’t Americanize the story to much and stay true to the Anime (and not the orginal movie.) Also, it would be nice to see some Tachikomas running around. I like to see Richard Epcar and Crispin Freeman cast as their respective characters…BATOU and TOGASA. Otherwise I’m open for anything.

March 2, 2012

2501 said:

Major Kusanagi is the best character ever to be made in history Angelina Jolie as her? hell fuking no thats just inviting the whole GITS existance to burn in hell she already had her chance at a great character as Lara Croft she doesnt need another chance… Major should be a japanese actress or maybe Maggie Q thats not from the American side if Hollywood ruins GITS ill shoot someone Masamune Shirow should oversee EVERYTHING and give an ok for every decision Matrix is a gay cut off for GITS a damn shame in my eyes

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