Paramount and Dreamworks have been working on a live-action adaptation of the manga Ghost in the Shell, and naturally the first complaints were that the film wasn’t utilizing an Asian cast, and rather used actors and actresses like Scarlett Johansson.
Well, Screen Crush suggests that to counter these complaints, the studios were working with tests to digitally alter the cast:
“According to multiple independent sources close to the project, Paramount and DreamWorks commissioned visual effects tests that would’ve altered Scarlett Johansson in post-production to ‘shift her ethnicity’ and make the Caucasian actress appear more Asian in the film.”
The special effects used for these tests were provided by Lola VFX, a company known for digitally altering actors and actresses, but once the tests were seen “the idea was rejected immediately”.
When asked about the project, Paramount insists that the tests were only done on a background character – yet Screen Crush continues that the tests were focused on Scarlett Johansson.
Also included in the cast is Beat Takeshi Kitano as Daisuke Aramaki, Juliette Binoche as Dr. Ouelet, Michael Pitt as Kuze, Pilou Asbæk as Batou, and Kaori Momoi. The members of Section 9 are played by Chin Han, Danusia Samal, Lasarus Ratuere, Yutaka Izumihara and Tuwanda Manyimo.
The film will be directed by Rupert Sanders and is set for release March 31, 2017.
How do you feel about this new report? Are you looking forward to watching Ghost in the Shell? Be sure to tell us all of your thoughts in the comment section below!