GHOST IN THE SHELL: Scarlett Johansson Spotted In Hong Kong

Ghost In The Shell, Rupert Sanders' live action remake of Oshii Mamoru's hugely influential 1995 anime classic, is now shooting in Hong Kong. Scarlett Johansson and co-star Pilou Asbaek have been snapped by local Chinese media on location in full costume as Major Motoko Kusanagi and Batou respectively.

The production drew criticism earlier this year when Johansson was cast in the role of the cyborg law enforcer, who is traditionally portratyed as being Japanese in origin. There were even rumours of initial plans to make Johansson look more Asian using make-up and digital effects, although apparently those plans have since been abandoned.

Ghost In The Shell, a huge influence on films such as The Matrix, sees Kusanagi attempt to take down a notorious cyber terrorist known as the Puppet Master, in a near-future metropolis in part inspired by Hong Kong. Johansson and Asbaek were snapped earlier today on location in Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon.

This new film adaptation also stars Kitano Takeshi, Momoi Kaori, Fukushima Rila, Juliette Binoche, Michael Wincott and Michael Pitt, and is scheduled for release in March 2017.

Check out the images below, which were originally published by www.hk01.com here