Ghost in the Shell Publisher Says Scarlett Johansson is "Well-cast" in Movie Role

A live-action movie adaptation of the classic anime film Ghost in the Shell has been a long time coming, but now that production has begun, it is proving somewhat controversial. The decision to cast Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson as the lead character, Japanese cyborg Motoko Kusanagi, has led many to accuse the filmmakers of "whitewashing" the role. Now Kodansha, the publisher of the original Ghost in the Shell manga, has commented on the issue.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Sam Yoshiba, director of Kodansha's international business division, explained that he believed the casting would in fact benefit the film. "Looking at her career so far, I think Scarlett Johansson is well-cast," he said. "She has the cyberpunk feel. And we never imagined it would be a Japanese actress in the first place.

"This is a chance for a Japanese property to be seen around the world."

THR also reported that Yoshiba had visited the movie's New Zealand set, and that he was "impressed by the respect" being shown for the source material.

Ghost in the Shell was one of the key anime films to break through to a western audience during the 1990s. It was created by Masamune Shirow, and began as a manga series in 1989.

The popularity of the manga led to four anime movies, the latest of which, Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie, was released last year. There have also been a number of video games.

Ghost in the Shell is set to be released on March 31, 2017.