‘Ghost In The Shell’ Cast, Updates: Leaked On-Set Photographs Feature Live-Action Cast Including Scarlett Johansson’s Controversial Major

‘Ghost In The Shell’ cast members were featured in new character photographs reportedly leaked from the filming set of the upcoming live-action adaptation including Scarlett Johansson’s controversial The Major.

According to Screen Crush, new character photographs from the filming set of Rupert Sanders’ upcoming action-crime and science-fiction film have reportedly been leaked. Sander’s film is a live-action adaptation of the iconic science-fiction Japanese manga of the same name created by Masamune Shirow.

If the leaked photographs are to be believed, the new images are the first look at the other members of Public Security Section 9. The photographs posted on Anime News Network showed Tawanda Manyimo as explosives specialist Borma, Pilou Asbaek as the Major’s second commanding officer Batou, Beat Takeshi as Section 9 director Chief Daisuke Aramaki, Yutaka Izumihara as tactical sniper Saito, Chin Han as Togusa, and Lasarus Ratuere as information warfare and tech specialist Ishikawa.

The most of striking of them all is Johansson’s The Major, the main protagonist in the manga and anime series. Although some photographs of Johansson’s lead protagonist The Major have previously been released, it is still interesting seeing Johansson in the character’s iconic short black hair and battle-ready costume.

The 31-year old’s casting into the role earned some backlash from fans of the media franchise, with most saying that The Major was intended for a Japanese actress. Whitewashing controversy continues to surround the film.

The Major, originally called Major Makoto Kusanagi in the original series, is a cyborg employed as the field leader of the anti-terrorism/cybercrimes division Public Security Section 9 of the Japanese National Public Safety Commission. She is known to be highly intelligent and physically powerful with hacking and deduction abilities.

Makoto Kusanagi was voiced by Japanese actress Atsuko Tanaka and American actress Mimi Woods for the 1995 animated film adaptation of the series. The film was directed by Mamoru Oshii and written for the big screen by Kazunori Ito. It was released to positive reception from critics in Japan on November 1995.

It was released in theaters in the United States on February 1996 and earned $515.91 million in domestic sales, according to Box Office Mojo.

‘Ghost In The Shell’ is an upcoming action-crime and science-fiction film directed by Rupert Sanders with a screenplay prepared by Jonathan Herman and Jamie Moss. Ari Arad, Avi Arad, and Steven Paul are serving as producers while Michael Costigan, Tetsuya Fujimura, Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, Jeffrey Silver, and Mark Sourian are executive producing. It is scheduled to be released in the United States on March 31, 2017.