Scarlett Johansson will star in Ghost in the Shell!

The project to adapt Ghost in the Shell in live-action undergoes accelerated sudden: Scarlett Johansson has signed on for the lead role, and the film is taking shape more and more.

Ghost in the Shell, transposition into live-action eponymous manga by Masamune Shirow, has found its protagonist: Variety reports that Scarlett Johansson has officially signed on to play the movie, directed by Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman).

The manga follows the story of Section 9, anti-terrorist organization that operates in the Japan of the future, specialized in solving crimes information and technology. At the head of the Section 9 is Motoko Kusanagi, an agent whose body was entirely replaced by artificial implants; also his colleagues of implant cybernetic, but still retain their original body. Beyond its spectacular component, the manga is characterized by deep existential reflections related to the relationship between humanity and technology, and to the merging of these two spheres.

It seems that the production of the film has not yet received the official go-ahead, but Dreamworks and Steven Spielberg, big fan of manga, are determined to proceed with the adaptation, because the presence of Scarlett Johansson should give the last push to the approval of the project. Paramount has an option to contribute to financing the film, fitting as co-producer.