View source for Ghost in the Shell (2017 film)

{{Short description|2017 film by Rupert Sanders}}
{{about|the 2017 live-action film|the 1995 anime film|Ghost in the Shell (1995 film)|other uses|Ghost in the Shell (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Ghost in the Shell
| image          = Ghost in the Shell (2017 film).png
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Rupert Sanders]]
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Avi Arad]]
* [[Steven Paul]]
* [[Michael Costigan (film producer)|Michael Costigan]]
}}
| screenplay     = {{Plainlist|
* [[Jamie Moss]]
* William Wheeler
* [[Ehren Kruger]]
}}
| based_on       = {{based on|''[[Ghost in the Shell (manga)|Ghost in the Shell]]''|[[Masamune Shirow]]}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
<!-- As per the cast listing on the poster's billing block. -->
* [[Scarlett Johansson]]
* [[Takeshi Kitano]]
* [[Michael Pitt]]
* [[Pilou Asbæk]]
* [[Chin Han (actor, born 1969)|Chin Han]]
* [[Juliette Binoche]]
}}
| music          = {{Plainlist|
* [[Clint Mansell]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Adam Chitwood|url=https://collider.com/ghost-in-the-shell-composer-clint-mansell/|title=Clint Mansell to Score 'Ghost in the Shell'|work=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|date=November 14, 2016|access-date=January 21, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Lorne Balfe]]
}}
| cinematography = [[Jess Hall]]
| editing        = {{Plainlist|
* Neil Smith
* Billy Rich
}}
| studio         = {{Plainlist|
* [[Paramount Pictures]]<ref name=vi>{{cite web|url=http://www.varietyinsight.com/print_featurefilm_releases.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026183041/http://www.varietyinsight.com/print_featurefilm_releases.php|title=Film releases|work=[[Variety Insight]]|archive-date=October 26, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Amblin Partners]]<ref name=vi/>
* [[DreamWorks Pictures]]<ref name=vi/>
* Arad Productions<ref name=vi/>
* [[Reliance Entertainment]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1602/S00501/traditional-maori-welcome-for-ghost-in-the-shell.htm|title=Traditional Māori welcome for Ghost in the Shell|work=[[Scoop (website)|Scoop]]|date=February 25, 2016|access-date=November 13, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Steven Paul|Steven Paul Productions]]<ref name="bfi">{{cite web|title=Ghost in the Shell (2017)|work=[[British Film Institute]]|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/59ba570783b32|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226121048/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/59ba570783b32|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 26, 2017}}</ref>
}}
| distributor    = Paramount Pictures<ref name=vi/>
| released       = {{Film date|2017|3|16|[[Shinjuku]]|2017|3|31|[[United States]]}}
| runtime        = 107 minutes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amctheatres.com/movies/ghost-in-the-shell|title=Ghost in the Shell (2017)|website=[[AMC Theatres]]|access-date=March 9, 2017}}</ref>
| country        = 
{{plainlist|* United States
* Hong Kong
* China<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Sight & Sound]]|title=Ghost in the Shell|last=Stables|first=Kate|page=64|date=June 2017|volume=27|issue=6}}</ref>}}
| language       = {{Plainlist|
* English
* Japanese
}}
| budget         = $110 million<ref name="Lang"/>
| gross          = $169.8 million<ref name="BOM"/>
}}
'''''Ghost in the Shell''''' is a 2017 [[Action film#Science fiction-action|science fiction action film]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Ghost in the Shell (2017) - Rupert Sanders |url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/v623667 |website=[[AllMovie]] |access-date=29 January 2020}}</ref><!-- PLEASE DO NOT ADD MORE GENRES. as per [[WP:FILMLEAD]] we should only have the main genre in the lead sentence. --> directed by [[Rupert Sanders]] and written by [[Jamie Moss]], William Wheeler and [[Ehren Kruger]]. It is the first [[live-action]] movie based on the [[Japanese people#Arts|Japanese]] [[Ghost in the Shell (franchise)|Ghost in the Shell franchise]] envisioned by [[Masamune Shirow]], and stars [[Scarlett Johansson]], [[Takeshi Kitano]], [[Michael Pitt]], [[Pilou Asbæk]], [[Chin Han (actor, born 1969)|Chin Han]] and [[Juliette Binoche]]. Set in a near future when the line between [[human]]s and [[robot]]s is blurring, the story follows Major [[Motoko Kusanagi]] (Johansson), a [[cyborg]] [[supersoldier]] who investigates her past.

Filming for ''Ghost in the Shell'' took place in [[New Zealand]] from February to June 2016, with additional filming in [[Hong Kong]] that June. The film premiered in Tokyo on March 16, 2017, and was released in the United States on March 31, 2017, in [[IMAX]], [[3D film|3D]], [[IMAX 3D]], and [[4DX]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cineworld.co.uk/blog/5-reasons-why-you-need-to-experience-ghost-in-the-shell-in-mind-blowing-4dx |title=5 reasons why you need to experience Ghost in the Shell in mind-blowing 4DX |work=Cineworld.co.uk |date=March 17, 2017 |access-date=May 29, 2017 |archive-date=July 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728135313/https://www.cineworld.co.uk/blog/5-reasons-why-you-need-to-experience-ghost-in-the-shell-in-mind-blowing-4dx |url-status=dead }}</ref> It grossed $169.8 million worldwide against a production budget of $110 million,<ref name="Lang">{{cite web |last=Lang |first=Brent |title=Box Office: Can 'Boss Baby,' 'Ghost in the Shell' Top 'Beauty and the Beast'? |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/box-office/box-office-ghost-in-the-shell-boss-baby-1202018796/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=March 29, 2017 |date=March 29, 2017}}</ref><ref name="BOM">{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=ghostintheshell2017.htm |title=The Ghost in the Shell (2017) |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=May 26, 2017}}</ref> and lost at least $60 million (with more than $100 million being a possibility due to a disputed budget).<ref>{{cite web |last=Anthony D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |title='Ghost In The Shell' Will Lose $60 Million-Plus: Here's Why |url=https://deadline.com/2017/04/ghost-in-the-shell-scarlett-johansson-box-office-flop-whitewash-1202061479/ |website=[[Deadline (magazine)|Deadline]] |access-date=June 26, 2023 |date=April 5, 2017}}</ref> On home media, however, the film debuted at number two .<ref>{{cite web |last=Arnold |first=Thomas K. |title='Boss Baby,' 'Ghost in the Shell' Take Two Top Spots on Disc Charts |url=https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/boss-baby-ghost-in-the-shell-take-two-top-spots-on-disc-charts-1202514330/ |website=Variety |access-date=August 24, 2019 |date=August 2, 2017}}</ref>

''Ghost in the Shell'' received mixed reviews, with praise for its cast performances, visual style, action sequences, cinematography and musical score, but criticism for its plot and lack of character development. The casting of "[[White people|white]]" actors (particularly Johansson in the lead role) drew accusations of [[racism]] and [[whitewashing in film|whitewashing]] in the United States,<ref name="collider1">{{cite web |author=Michael Goldberg |date=March 31, 2017 |title='Ghost in the Shell' is Racist in Unexpected Ways |url=https://collider.com/ghost-in-the-shell-racism-explained/ |access-date=September 14, 2017 |work=Collider}}</ref><ref name="variety1">{{cite web |last=Ahern |first=Sarah |date=March 15, 2017 |title=Asian American Media Group Accuses Scarlett Johansson of 'Lying' About 'Ghost in the Shell' Whitewashing Controversy |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/scarlett-johansson-ghost-in-the-shell-whitewashing-1202020230/ |access-date=January 1, 2020 |website=Variety}}</ref><ref name="indiewire1">{{cite web |author=David Ehrlich |date=April 2, 2017 |title=Will 'Ghost in the Shell' Be the Last Racially Insensitive Blockbuster? — Critics Survey |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/04/ghost-in-the-shell-white-washing-racist-movies-film-critic-survey-1201800022/amp/ |access-date=September 14, 2017 |work=Indie Wire}}</ref><ref name="idsnews1">{{cite web |author=Annie Halliwell |date=April 5, 2017 |title=Ghost in the Shell Review: Post Racism an Excuse for Asian Erasure |url=http://www.idsnews.com/article/2017/04/ghost-in-the-shell-review-racism-whitewashing-anime-kuze-puppet-master |access-date=September 14, 2017 |work=IDS News}}</ref> although it was the opinion of [[Mamoru Oshii]], the director of the [[Ghost in the Shell (1995 film)|original anime]] which heavily inspired the movie, that there was no basis for this accusation.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Guardian staff |date=24 March 2017 |title=Original Ghost in the Shell director: 'no basis' for whitewashing anger |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/mar/24/scarlett-johansson-ghost-in-the-shell-director-whitewashing |access-date=19 May 2021 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref>

==Plot==
In the near future, humans are [[Human enhancement|augmented]] with cybernetic improvements such as vision, strength and intelligence. Augmentation developer Hanka Robotics establishes a secret project to develop an artificial body, or "shell", that can [[Brain–computer interface|integrate]] a human brain rather than an [[artificial intelligence|AI]]. Mira Killian, the sole survivor of a [[Cyberterrorism|cyberterrorist]] attack which killed her parents, is chosen as the test subject after her body is damaged beyond repair. Over the objections of her designer Dr. Ouelet, Hanka Robotics CEO, Cutter, decides to use Killian as a [[counter-terrorism]] operative.

A year later, Killian has attained the rank of Major in the counter-terrorism bureau [[Section 9]], working alongside operatives [[Batou]] and [[Togusa]] under [[Daisuke Aramaki|Chief Daisuke Aramaki]]. Killian, who experiences [[Hallucination (artificial intelligence)|hallucinations]] that Ouelet dismisses as [[glitch]]es, is troubled as she doesn't clearly remember her past. The team thwarts a terrorist attack on a Hanka business conference, and Killian destroys a robotic [[geisha]] after the robot kills a hostage. After learning that the geisha was hacked by an unknown entity known as [[Hideo Kuze|Kuze]], Killian breaks protocol and "dives" into its AI for answers. The entity attempts a counter-hack, and Batou is forced to disconnect her. They trace the hacker to a [[yakuza]] nightclub, where they are lured into a trap. An explosion destroys Batou's eyes and damages Killian's body. Cutter is enraged by Killian's actions, and threatens to have Section 9 shut down unless Aramaki keeps her in line.

Kuze tracks down Section 9's Hanka consultant, Dr. Dahlin, and kills her. The team links her murder to the deaths of other senior company researchers and realize that Ouelet is the next target. Kuze takes control of two sanitation workers and sends them to kill Ouelet. Now with [[Visual prosthesis|cybernetic eyes]], Batou kills one while the repaired Killian subdues the other. While they interrogate the worker, Kuze speaks through him before compelling him to commit suicide. Togusa traces the hack to a secret location, where the team discovers a large number of humans mentally linked as a makeshift signal network. Killian is captured and Kuze reveals himself as a failed Hanka test subject from the same project that created Killian, where he urges her to question her own memories and to stop taking her medication as it actually helps to block her memories. Kuze then frees her and escapes.

Killian confronts Ouelet, who admits that 98 test subjects died before Killian, and that her memories are [[Memory implantation|implanted]]. Cutter has decided that Killian is a liability and orders Ouelet to kill her after she returns to Hanka Robotics. Instead, Ouelet gives Killian an address and helps her escape. Cutter kills Ouelet, but blames Killian, saying that she has gone rogue. He informs Aramaki and the team that Killian must be terminated. Killian follows the address to an apartment occupied by a widowed mother, who reveals that her daughter [[Motoko Kusanagi]] ran away from home a year ago and was arrested; while in custody, Motoko "[[Death in custody|took her own life]]." Killian leaves and contacts Aramaki, who allows Cutter to remotely eavesdrop on their conversation.

Batou, Togusa and Aramaki eliminate Cutter's men trying to ambush them, while Killian follows her memories to the hideaway where Motoko was last seen. She and Kuze meet and recall their past lives as anti-augmentation radicals who were abducted by Hanka as test subjects. Cutter deploys a "spider-tank" to kill them. Kuze nearly dies before Killian is able to tear out the tank's Motor Control Center, losing an arm in the process. Mortally wounded, Kuze asks Killian to join him in leaving this world, but Killian refuses and tells Kuze that he will always be with her in her ghost then fades out. A Hanka sniper kills him. Batou and the team rescue Killian, while Aramaki executes Cutter with Killian's consent. The next day, now repaired and embracing her true [[Identity (social science)|identity]] as the Japanese Motoko, Killian reconnects with her mother and returns to work with Section 9.

==Cast==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Scarlett Johansson]] as [[Motoko Kusanagi|Major Mira Killian / Motoko Kusanagi]]
** Kaori Yamamoto as young Motoko<ref name="Truffaut-Wong">{{cite web |first=Olivia |last=Truffaut-Wong |url=https://www.bustle.com/p/the-ghost-in-the-shell-twist-addresses-whitewashing-claims-in-a-disturbing-way-47138 |title=The 'Ghost In The Shell' Twist Addresses Whitewashing Claims In A Disturbing Way |work=Bustle |date=March 31, 2017 |access-date=April 8, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Takeshi Kitano|"Beat" Takeshi Kitano]] as [[Daisuke Aramaki|Chief Daisuke Aramaki]]
* [[Michael Pitt|Michael Carmen Pitt]] as [[Hideo Kuze|Kuze / Hideo]]<ref>{{cite press release|title=Paramount Pictures and Dreamworks Pictures' "Ghost in the Shell" Is in Production in New Zealand|url=https://business.facebook.com/notes/paramount-pictures/paramount-pictures-and-dreamworks-pictures-ghost-in-the-shell-is-in-production-i/10154147848862072|date=April 15, 2016|publisher=Paramount Pictures|via=Facebook|access-date=April 4, 2017}}</ref>
** Andrew Morris as young Hideo
* [[Pilou Asbæk]] as [[Batou]]
* [[Chin Han (actor, born 1969)|Chin Han]] as [[Togusa]]
* [[Lasarus Ratuere]] as [[Ishikawa (Ghost in the Shell)|Carlos Ishikawa]]
* [[Juliette Binoche]] as Dr. Ouelet<ref name="comingsoon.net">{{cite web|author=CS |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/676453-ghost-in-the-shell-photo-released-as-production-begins |title=Ghost in the Shell Photo Released as Production Begins |work=ComingSoon.net |date=April 14, 2016 |access-date=April 4, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Peter Ferdinando]] as Cutter
* [[Kaori Momoi]] as Hairi, Motoko's mother
* Danusia Samal as [[List of Ghost in the Shell characters#Ladriya|Ladriya]]
* [[Anamaria Marinca]] as Dr. Dahlin
* [[Michael Wincott]] as Dr. Osmond (uncredited)
* Yutaka Izumihara as [[Saito (Ghost in the Shell)|Saito]]
* [[Tawanda Manyimo]] as [[Boma (Ghost in the Shell)|Borma]]
* [[Daniel Henshall]] as Skinny Man
* [[Rila Fukushima]] as a [[geisha]] robot
* [[Chris Obi]] as Ambassador
* [[Adwoa Aboah]] as Lia
* [[Pete Teo]] as Tony
* Hugh Han as Data Host
* [[Tricky (musician)|Tricky]] (deleted scene)<ref>{{cite web |last=Guan |first=Frank |title=New Tricky Song Means at Least One Thing About Ghost In the Shell Will Be Good |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/03/listen-to-the-new-tricky-song-from-ghost-in-the-shell.html |website=Vulture |access-date=March 31, 2017 |date=March 17, 2017}}</ref>
}}

In the Japanese dub, [[Atsuko Tanaka (voice actress)|Atsuko Tanaka]], [[Akio Ōtsuka]] and [[Kōichi Yamadera]] reprise the roles they played in the [[Mamoru Oshii]] films and the ''[[Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex|Stand Alone Complex]]'' television series.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hadfield |first=James |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2017/04/12/films/film-reviews/hollywoods-ghost-shell-remake-misses-mark/ |title=Hollywood's 'Ghost in the Shell' remake misses the mark |work=The Japan Times |date=April 12, 2017 |access-date=April 13, 2017}}</ref>

==Production==
In 2008, [[DreamWorks Pictures|DreamWorks]] (who had handled U.S. theatrical distribution of ''[[Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence]]'' through its [[Go Fish Pictures]] banner) and [[Steven Spielberg]] acquired the rights to produce a live-action film adaptation of the original manga. [[Avi Arad]] and [[Steven Paul]] were later confirmed as producers, with [[Jamie Moss]] set to write the screenplay.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2008/film/markets-festivals/dreamworks-to-make-ghost-in-3-d-1117984029/|title=DreamWorks to make 'Ghost' in 3-D|work=Variety|access-date=November 9, 2011 |first1=Tatiana|last1=Siegel|first2=Michael|last2=Fleming|date=April 14, 2008}}</ref> In October 2009, it was announced that [[Laeta Kalogridis]] had replaced Moss as writer.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/kalogridis-to-adapt-ghost-in-the-shell-1118010309/|title=Kalogridis to adapt 'Ghost in the Shell'|work=Variety|access-date=November 9, 2011|first=Tatiana|last=Siegel|date=October 22, 2009}}</ref> On January 24, 2014, it was reported that [[Rupert Sanders]] would direct the film, with the screenplay now written by William Wheeler.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bishop|first=Bryan|title=Live-action 'Ghost in the Shell' movie signs the director of 'Snow White and the Huntsman'|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/1/25/5343472/live-action-ghost-in-the-shell-movie-signs-the-director-of-snow-white|work=[[The Verge]]|date=January 25, 2014|access-date=March 3, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sherman |first1=Jennifer |title=Live-Action Ghost in the Shell Project Signs Up Director Rupert Sanders |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-01-24/live-action-ghost-in-the-shell-project-signs-up-director-rupert-sanders |access-date=January 24, 2020 |work=[[Anime News Network]] |date=January 24, 2014}}</ref> Wheeler worked on the script for approximately a year and a half, later saying, "It's a vast enterprise. I think I was second or third in the mix, and I know there have been at least six or seven writers."<ref>{{cite web |last=McKittrick |first=Christopher |title=Queen of Katwe: Expanding What a Disney Film Can Be |url=http://creativescreenwriting.com/queen-of-katwe/|work=Creative Screenwriting|date=September 30, 2016|access-date=September 30, 2016}}</ref> [[Jonathan Herman]] also worked on the screenplay.<ref>{{cite web|last=Siegel |first=Tatiana |title='Straight Outta Compton' Writer to Tackle Scarlett Johansson Thriller 'Ghost in the Shell' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/straight-outta-compton-writer-tackle-833762|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=October 23, 2015|access-date=April 8, 2017}}</ref> Ultimately, credit for the screenplay was given to Moss, William Wheeler and [[Ehren Kruger]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2017}}

On September 3, 2014, [[Margot Robbie]] was reported as being in early talks for the lead role.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fleming|first1=Mike Jr.|title='Wolf Of Wall Street's Margot Robbie Eyes 'Ghost In The Shell'|url=https://deadline.com/2014/09/wolf-of-wall-streets-margot-robbie-eyes-ghost-in-the-shell-828817/|access-date=September 3, 2014|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=September 3, 2014|archive-date=December 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204131001/https://deadline.com/2014/09/wolf-of-wall-streets-margot-robbie-eyes-ghost-in-the-shell-828817/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On October 16, it was announced that DreamWorks had made a $10 million offer to [[Scarlett Johansson]] for the lead role, after Robbie had chosen to play [[Harley Quinn]] in ''[[Suicide Squad (2016 film)|Suicide Squad]]'' instead.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gallagher|first1=Brian|title='Ghost in the Shell' Movie Wants Scarlett Johansson for the Lead|url=http://www.movieweb.com/ghost-shell-movie-cast-scarlett-johansson|access-date=October 17, 2014|work=[[MovieWeb]]|date=October 16, 2014}}</ref> In May 2015, [[Paramount Pictures]] agreed to co-produce and co-finance the film.<ref name=McNary>{{cite news|last1=McNary|first1=Dave|title=Paramount Co-Financing Scarlett Johansson's 'Ghost in the Shell'|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/scarlett-johansson-ghost-in-the-shell-paramount-1201490527/|access-date=February 5, 2016|work=Variety|date=May 8, 2015}}</ref> On November 10, 2015, [[Pilou Asbæk]] was cast in the role of Batou.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kroll|first1=Justin|title=Pilou Asbæk to Co-Star With Scarlett Johansson in 'Ghost in the Shell' (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/pilou-asbaek-scarlett-johansson-ghost-in-the-shell-1201637556/|access-date=November 11, 2015|work=Variety|date=November 10, 2015}}</ref> According to ''[[TheWrap]]'', [[Matthias Schoenaerts]] was previously circling the role that went to Asbæk.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sneider |first1=Jeff|title=Scarlett Johansson to Reteam With 'Lucy' Co-Star for 'Ghost in the Shell'|url=https://www.thewrap.com/scarlett-johansson-to-reteam-with-lucy-co-star-for-ghost-in-the-shell/|access-date=March 5, 2017|work=TheWrap|date=November 10, 2015}}</ref> On November 19, 2015, it was reported that [[Sam Riley]] was in early talks to play the villain role Kuze, leader of dangerous criminals and extremists,<ref name=Jaafar>{{cite news|last1=Jaafar|first1=Ali|title=Sam Riley In Talks For 'Ghost In The Shell' Opposite Scarlett Johansson|url=https://deadline.com/2015/11/sam-riley-in-talks-ghost-in-the-shell-scarlett-johansson-dreamworks-paramount-lily-james-brie-larson-1201630113/|access-date=November 28, 2015|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=November 19, 2015}}</ref> though on February 4, 2016, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' reported that [[Michael Pitt]] had entered talks for the role.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/ghost-in-the-shell-michael-pitt-scarlett-johansson-1201697737/ |title=Michael Pitt to Play Villain in Scarlett Johansson's 'Ghost in the Shell' |work=Variety |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=February 4, 2016 |access-date=February 5, 2016}}</ref> On March 3, 2016, ''[[TheWrap]]'' reported that Japanese actor [[Takeshi Kitano]] had been cast as Daisuke Aramaki, the founder and leader of the elite unit Section 9, tasked with protecting the world from the most dangerous technological threats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/scarlett-johanssons-ghost-in-the-shell-casts-its-first-japanese-actor/|title=Scarlett Johansson's 'Ghost in the Shell' Casts Its First Japanese Actor|work=TheWrap|date=March 2, 2016|access-date=March 3, 2016|last=Snider|first=Jeff}}</ref>

In April 2016, the full cast was announced, including [[Juliette Binoche]], [[Chin Han (actor, born 1969)|Chin Han]], [[Lasarus Ratuere]] and [[Kaori Momoi]].<ref name="comingsoon.net"/> In May 2016, [[Rila Fukushima]] was cast in a role.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/wolverine-actress-rila-fukushima-joins-896857|title='Wolverine' Actress Rila Fukushima Joins Scarlett Johansson in 'Ghost in the Shell' (Exclusive)|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|last1=Kit|first1=Borys|last2=Galuppo|first2=Mia|date=May 25, 2016}}</ref> Filming wrapped in New Zealand on June 3, 2016. Filming also took place in the [[Yau Ma Tei]] and [[Jordan, Hong Kong|Jordan]] areas of [[Hong Kong]], around Pak Hoi Street and Woosung Street on June 7, 8 and 10 or 14–16.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2037972/ghost-shell-will-film-hong-kong-and-theres-still-no-asian-lead|title="Ghost in the Shell" Will Film in Hong Kong—and There's Still No Asian Lead|last=Tsui|first=Stephanie|date=June 2, 2016|access-date=June 4, 2016|work=[[HK Magazine]]|publisher=South China Morning Post}}</ref> The score was recorded at [[Synchron Stage Vienna]] in Austria.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ghost in the Shell - SynchronStage Vienna |url=https://www.synchronstage.com/en/projects/ghost_in_the_shell |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=www.synchronstage.com}}</ref>

==Release==
''Ghost in the Shell'' was originally scheduled for release on April 14, 2017, by [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures]] through their [[Touchstone Pictures]] banner.<ref>{{cite news |last=McNary |first=Dave |title=Disney Sets Several 2016 Release Dates |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/disney-sets-several-2016-release-dates-1201404285/ |access-date=February 5, 2016 |work=Variety |date=January 13, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/01/ghost-in-the-shell-release-date-the-jungle-book-disney-the-finest-hours-1201349315|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118004444/http://deadline.com/2015/01/ghost-in-the-shell-release-date-the-jungle-book-disney-the-finest-hours-1201349315/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 18, 2015|title=Disney Dates 'Ghost In The Shell', Moves Jungle Book Back 6 Months|website=Deadline Hollywood|last=Pedersen|first=Erik|date=January 13, 2015|access-date=February 5, 2016}}</ref> The film was part of DreamWorks' distribution deal with [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]], which began in 2009.<ref>{{cite news |last=Masters |first=Kim |title=Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks to Split From Disney, in Talks With Universal (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/steven-spielbergs-dreamworks-split-disney-819594|access-date=February 7, 2016|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=September 2, 2015}}</ref> In April 2015, Disney moved the film's North American release date to March 31, 2017, with [[Paramount Pictures]] handling international distribution.<ref name=McNary/><ref>{{cite news |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |title=Disney Moves 'Ghost In The Shell' Up Two Weeks|url=https://deadline.com/2015/04/disney-moves-ghost-in-the-shell-to-march-31-2017-1201418351/|access-date=February 5, 2016|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=April 29, 2015}}</ref> However, it was reported in September 2015 that DreamWorks and Disney would not renew their distribution deal, which was set to expire in August 2016.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McNary|first1=Dave|title=Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks to Leave Disney, Possibly for Universal|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/steven-spielbergs-dreamworks-to-leave-disney-possibly-for-universal-1201583836/|access-date=September 3, 2015|work=Variety|date=September 2, 2015}}</ref> In January 2016, Disney dropped the film from its slate after DreamWorks finalized their distribution deal with [[Universal Pictures]] in December 2015.<ref name=Stedman>{{cite news|last1=Stedman|first1=Alex|title='Ghost in the Shell' Moves to Paramount from Disney|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/ghost-in-the-shell-release-date-paramount-disney-1201688478|access-date=January 26, 2016|work=Variety|date=January 25, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Lang|first1=Brent|title=Steven Spielberg, Jeff Skoll Bring Amblin Partners to Universal|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/steven-spiellberg-universal-1201662956|access-date=Dec 23, 2015|work=Variety|date=December 16, 2015}}</ref> Disney's distribution rights for the film were transferred completely to Paramount instead of Universal, with Paramount retaining Disney's release date of March 31, 2017.<ref name=Stedman/> The film was not [[Film screening#Critic screenings|screened for critics]] before its release.<ref name="deadline1">{{cite web |date=April 5, 2017 |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |url=https://deadline.com/2017/04/ghost-in-the-shell-scarlett-johansson-box-office-flop-whitewash-1202061479/ |title='Ghost In The Shell': Scarlett Johansson Movie Flop Will Lose $60 Million |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=July 10, 2017}}</ref>

===Box office===
''Ghost in the Shell'' grossed $40.5 million in the United States and Canada, and $129.2 million in other territories, for a worldwide gross of $169.8 million, against a production budget of $110 million.<ref name=BOM/> In North America, ''Ghost in the Shell'' opened alongside ''[[The Boss Baby]]'' and ''[[The Zookeeper's Wife (film)|The Zookeeper's Wife]]'', and was projected to gross around $25 million from 3,440 theaters in its opening weekend.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fuster|first=Jeremy|url=https://www.thewrap.com/boss-baby-and-ghost-in-the-shell-to-take-on-beauty-and-the-beast-this-weekend/|title='Boss Baby,' 'Ghost in the Shell' to Battle 'Beauty and the Beast' This Weekend|work=[[TheWrap]]|date=March 27, 2017|access-date=March 31, 2017}}</ref> It made $1.8 million from Thursday night previews and $7.7 million on Friday, which includes the preview number.{{Citation needed|date=April 2018}} The film opened to $19 million, finishing third at the box office, behind ''The Boss Baby'' and ''[[Beauty and the Beast (2017 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]''. ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'' attributed the poor opening to below-average critical reviews, an unclear marketing campaign, and no social media presence by Johansson.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 2, 2017 |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |title='Boss Baby' Bullies 'Beast' With $50M+ Opening; 'Ghost' Shell-Shocked With Low $18.6M |website=Deadline Hollywood |url=https://deadline.com/2017/04/ghost-in-the-shell-scarlett-johansson-boss-baby-beauty-and-the-beast-weekend-box-office-1202056616/ |access-date=April 2, 2017}}</ref> In its second weekend, the film grossed $7.4 million, dropping 60.4% and finishing 5th at the box office.<ref>{{cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |title='Boss Baby' Rules With $26M+; Sizing Up 'Smurfs: The Lost Village'; Seniors Are 'Going In Style' – Sunday Final Update |url=https://deadline.com/2017/04/smurfs-the-lost-village-going-in-style-boss-baby-beauty-and-the-beast-box-office-1202064314/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=April 9, 2017 |date=9 April 2017}}</ref>

Kyle Davies, domestic distribution chief for Paramount, felt the controversy around the casting had damaged reviews, and said: "...you're always trying to thread that needle between honoring the source material and mak[ing] a movie for a mass audience. That's challenging, but clearly the reviews didn't help."<ref>{{cite news |author=Zulekha Nathoo |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/ghost-shell-box-office-poor-1.4052043 |title=Casting controversy, reviews blamed for Ghost in the Shell failure at box office|work=[[CBC News]]|date=April 2, 2017|access-date=April 6, 2017}}</ref> Conversely, Deadline argued that the negative critical assessment was due to the film being "cold, boring, thoughtless, and the same old next to its futuristic ancestors ''[[The Matrix]]'' and ''[[Blade Runner]]''," and suggested that Paramount held the film from review because they "knew they had a lame duck."<ref name="deadline1"/>

Japanese box office reception since the official release in the country, on April 7, was more positive, earning $3.3 million during its first three days in theaters.<ref name="Lammers">{{cite web|first=Timothy|last=Lammers|url=https://screenrant.com/ghost-shell-movie-2017-japanese-response-scarlett-johansson/|title=''Ghost in the Shell'': Japanese Response to Remake is More Positive|work=[[Screen Rant]]|date=April 8, 2017|access-date=April 11, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Schilling">{{cite web|first=Mark|last=Schilling|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/asia/japan-box-office-ghost-in-the-shell-opens-behind-sing-1202028023/|title='Ghost in the Shell' Opens Behind 'Sing'|work=Variety|date=April 10, 2017|access-date=April 11, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Frank">{{cite web|first=Allegra|last=Frank|url=http://www.polygon.com/2017/4/10/15245488/ghost-in-the-shell-live-action-box-office-japan-review|title=''Ghost in the Shell'' Beloved in Japan, Despite Box Office Blowout in the West: People Don't Seem to Mind ScarJo as Much in the East|work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|date=April 10, 2017|access-date=April 11, 2017}}</ref> In Japan, ''Ghost in the Shell'' made it to second place, just behind ''[[Sing (2016 American film)|Sing]]''.<ref name="Schilling"/><ref name="Blair">{{cite news|first=Gavin J.|last=Blair|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/japanese-fans-react-ghost-shell-992255|title=Japanese Fans React to 'Ghost in the Shell'|magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=April 8, 2017|access-date=April 9, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Rusell">{{cite web|first=Rusell|last=Edwards|url=https://asiatimes.com/article/shell-shock-scarlett-vehicle-top-china-long/|title=Shell Shock: Scarlett Vehicle Top in China But for How Long? ''Ghost in the Shell'' Dethrones ''Kong: Skull Island'' in Mainland China; ''Sing'' Still Dominant in Japan|work=The Asia Times|date=April 11, 2017|access-date=April 11, 2017}}</ref> In [[China]], the film debuted at number one, grossing in $22.1 million and claiming the spot from ''[[Kong: Skull Island]]'', which had held it for three weeks.<ref name="Rusell"/> It performed below already muted expectations, leading to the Chinese media calling it a flop.<ref>{{cite web|date=April 10, 2017|last=Papish|first=Jonathan|url=http://chinafilminsider.com/china-box-office-meek-ghost-stays-in-shell/|title=China Box Office: Meek 'Ghost' Stays In Shell|work=China Film Insider|quote=Chinese media was already describing Ghost in the Shell as pūjiē (扑街) or a flop — literally something that had “fallen flat on its face.”|access-date=April 11, 2017}}</ref>

===Critical response===
On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an approval rating of 42%, based on 300 reviews, with an average rating of 5.50/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "''Ghost in the Shell'' boasts cool visuals and a compelling central performance from Scarlett Johansson, but the end result lacks the magic of the movie's classic source material."<ref name="RT">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ghost_in_the_shell_2017|title=Ghost in the Shell (2017)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date=May 6, 2019}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a score of 52 out of 100, based on 42 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref name="Metacritic">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/ghost-in-the-shell-2017|title=Ghost in the Shell Reviews|website=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|access-date=April 6, 2017}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.<ref name="CinemaScore">{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/CinemaScore/status/848042256884011008|title=''Ghost in the Shell''|publisher=[[CinemaScore]] on [[Twitter]]|date=March 31, 2017|access-date=April 10, 2017}}</ref>

Justin Chang of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' praised the film's visuals and production: "Some of that ravishment arrives courtesy of the movie's setting, a stunning pan-Asian metropolis that makes boldly inventive use of the Hong Kong skyline, its tightly stacked buildings tricked out with enormous holographic billboards. (The cinematography and production design, both staggering, are by Jess Hall and [[Jan Roelfs]], respectively.)"<ref>{{cite web|last=Chang|first=Justin|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-ghost-in-the-shell-review-20170330-story.html|title=The ravishing sci-fi noir 'Ghost in the Shell' is fascinating, and not without its glitches|work=Los Angeles Times|date=March 30, 2017|access-date=April 1, 2017}}</ref>
[[Michael Phillips (critic)|Michael Phillips]] of ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' gave the film 3/4 and said, "This isn't jokey, quippy science fiction; true to the source material, it's fairly grave about the implications of an android-dominated culture, though of course ''Ghost in the Shell'' is also about giant mecha spiders equipped with machine guns."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Phillips|first1=Michael|author-link=Michael Phillips (critic)|title='Ghost in the Shell' review: Scarlett Johansson gives life to controversial adaptation|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/sc-ghost-in-shell-mov-rev-0330-20170330-column.html|access-date=March 30, 2017|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=March 30, 2017}} {{rating|3|4}}</ref>

[[Richard Roeper]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film 2.5 out of 4 stars, saying: "Just about every scene in ''Ghost in the Shell'' is a visual wonder to behold—and you'll have ample to time to soak in all that background eye candy, because the plot machinations and the action in the foreground are largely of the ho-hum retread variety."<ref>{{cite web |author=Richard Roeper |author-link=Richard Roeper |url=http://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/in-ghost-in-the-shell-dazzling-visuals-support-a-drab-plot/ |title=In 'Ghost in the Shell,' dazzling visuals support a drab plot |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=March 31, 2017|access-date=March 31, 2017}}</ref> Evan Narcisse of ''[[io9]]'' commented that the film failed to capture the feel of the source material, with the biggest problem being the Major asking the wrong sort of existential questions about herself.<ref>{{cite web |last=Narcisse |first=Evan |url=http://io9.gizmodo.com/ghost-in-the-shell-delivers-a-beautiful-but-ultimately-1793845309 |title=Ghost in the Shell Delivers a Beautiful but Ultimately Empty Adaptation of an Anime Classic|work=io9|date=March 30, 2017|access-date=April 1, 2017}}</ref>

Cecilia D'Anastasio of ''[[Kotaku]]'' commented on the film's failure to adhere to the source material: "Somebody misjudged how poorly American superhero movie tropes would map onto ''Ghost in the Shell'' ... [the] final scene tried to do that 'satisfying our need for closure' thing American directors think is kind, but is actually condescending."<ref>{{cite web|last=D'Anastasio|first=Cecilia|url=http://kotaku.com/ghost-in-the-shell-really-bummed-us-out-1793895851|title=Ghost In The Shell Really Bummed Us Out|work=Kotaku|date=March 31, 2017|access-date=April 5, 2017}}</ref>
Brian Truitt of ''[[USA Today]]'' gave the film 1.5/4, stating: "''Ghost in the Shell'' is a defective mess with lifeless characters, missed chances for thematic exploration and a minefield of political incorrectness."<ref>{{cite web|last=Truitt|first=Brian|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2017/03/30/review-scarlett-johansson-ghost-in-the-shell-movie/99797166/|title=Review: 'Ghost in the Shell' revamp is in need of a better upgrade|work=USA Today|date=March 30, 2017|access-date=April 1, 2017}}</ref>

[[Manohla Dargis]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' expressed disappointment at the absence of the original's "big, human, all-too-human questions" in contrast to the retention of action clichés, such as chases and gun fights. Dargis also criticized the absence of the unique setting, stating that "The original manga takes place in what's described as a "strange corporate conglomerate-state called 'Japan'", while this movie unwinds nowhere in particular, just a universal megalopolis filled with soaring gray towers."<ref>{{cite web|date=March 30, 2017|author=Manohla Dargis|author-link=Manohla Dargis|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/30/movies/ghost-in-the-shell-review-scarlett-johansson.html|title=Review: In 'Ghost in the Shell,' a Cyborg With Soul|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=April 4, 2017}}</ref>

Nicholas Barber of the BBC described the film as "conceptually and visually breathtaking", an elaborately designed and detailed [[dystopia]] which seems disturbingly real.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Barber|first1=Nicholas|title=How good is the new Ghost in the Shell?|url=http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20170330-how-good-is-the-new-ghost-in-the-shell|access-date=April 14, 2017}}</ref>

Peter Suderman of ''[[Vox (website)|Vox]]'' and Emily Yoshida of ''[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]'' criticized the removal of philosophical ideas from the story, feeling the movie westernized the story and changed the search for the idea of a soul to finding individuality and memories.<ref>{{cite web|last=Williams|first=Jennifer|url=https://www.vox.com/2017/4/4/15138682/ghost-in-the-shell-anime-philosophy|title=The original Ghost in the Shell is iconic anime, and a rich philosophical text|work=[[Vox (website)|Vox]]|date=April 4, 2017|access-date=April 4, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Emily Yoshida|url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/03/ghost-in-the-shell-movie-review.html|title='Ghost in the Shell' Movie Review: A Shoddy, Soulless Remake|work=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]|date=March 30, 2017|access-date=April 4, 2017}}</ref> Hanns-Georg Rodek of ''[[Die Welt]]'' praised the film for being an action movie that for once does not throw philosophy overboard.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rodek |first1=Hanns-Georg |title="Ghost in the Shell": Was vom Menschen übrig blieb |url=https://www.welt.de/kultur/kino/article163229654/Was-vom-Menschen-uebrig-blieb.html |access-date=April 14, 2017 |work=[[Die Welt]] |date=March 29, 2017 |language=de}}</ref>

James Hadfield of ''[[The Japan Times]]'' argued that the film missed the mark, but was better than Hollywood's previous attempts at adapting anime for the big screen.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hadfield|first=James|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2017/04/12/films/film-reviews/hollywoods-ghost-shell-remake-misses-mark/|title=Hollywood's 'Ghost in the Shell' remake misses the mark|work=The Japan Times|date=April 12, 2017|access-date=April 15, 2017}}</ref>

The film has a 3.48 star (out of 5) rating on Yahoo! Japan Movies, with four stars for its visuals and three for its story.<ref name="Blair"/><ref name="Yahoo_Japan">{{cite web|url=https://movies.yahoo.co.jp/movie/%E3%82%B4%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9%E3%83%88%E3%83%BB%E3%82%A4%E3%83%B3%E3%83%BB%E3%82%B6%E3%83%BB%E3%82%B7%E3%82%A7%E3%83%AB/358781/trailer/|title=Ghost in the Shell (2017)|work=Yahoo! Japan Movies|language=ja|access-date=April 10, 2017}}</ref> On April 10, 2017, ''The Hollywood Reporter'' noted that the adaptation's then <!-- DO NOT UPDATE -->3.5 rating on Yahoo Movies Japan was higher than the 3.2 rating of the [[Ghost in the Shell (1995 film)|1995 original anime film]].<ref name="hollywoodreporter1">{{cite web|author=Gavin J. Blair |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/why-japan-wont-save-ghost-shell-being-a-box-office-flop-992349 |title=Why Japan Won't Save 'Ghost in the Shell' From Being a Box-Office Flop |work= [[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=April 10, 2017 |access-date=July 10, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Lammers"/>

===Home media===
''Ghost in the Shell'' was released by [[Paramount Home Entertainment]] on [[Digital distribution|digital]] on July 7, 2017,<ref>{{cite web|title=Ghost in the Shell (2017)|url=http://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/movies/7187/ghost-in-the-shell|website=DVD Release Dates|access-date=June 2, 2017}}</ref> and on [[Ultra HD Blu-ray]], [[Blu-ray 3D]], [[Blu-ray]] and [[DVD]] on July 25, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ghost in the Shell (2017)|url=https://www.ondvdreleases.com/2966-ghost-in-the-shell.html|website=On DVD Releases|access-date=June 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ghost In The Shell Blu-ray, DVD Release Date Announced|url=https://comicbook.com/anime/2017/05/26/ghost-in-the-shell-blu-ray-dvd-release-date-announced/|website=Comicbook.com|access-date=June 2, 2017}}</ref> The film was number two in the Top 20 NPD VideoScan First Alert chart and the Top 10 ''[[Home Media Magazine]]'' rental chart in the week ended July 20, 2017.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Arnold |first1=Thomas K. |title='Boss Baby,' 'Ghost in the Shell' Take Two Top Spots on Disc Charts |url=https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/boss-baby-ghost-in-the-shell-take-two-top-spots-on-disc-charts-1202514330 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=January 20, 2019 |date=August 2, 2017}}</ref> {{As of|2022|01}}, the film has grossed $13.1 million from DVD and Blu-ray sales.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ghost in the Shell (2017) - Financial Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Ghost-in-the-Shell#tab=summary |publisher=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]] |access-date=January 2, 2022}}</ref>

==Casting criticism==<!--Please don't change this section to "controversy" per WP:CSECTION.-->
The casting of Scarlett Johansson as [[Motoko Kusanagi|Major Mira Killian/Motoko Kusanagi]] brought accusations of [[Whitewashing in film|whitewashing]].<ref name="Hero Complex">{{cite web|last=Brown|first=Tracey|title='Ghost in the Shell': Scarlett Johansson casting called 'whitewashing'|url=http://herocomplex.latimes.com/movies/ghost-in-the-shell-scarlett-johansson-casting-a-blow-to-diversity/|access-date=April 14, 2016|work=Hero Complex|date=January 10, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Child">{{cite news|last=Child|first=Ben|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jan/16/dreamworks-scarlett-johansson-ghost-in-the-shell-whitewashing|title=DreamWorks accused of 'whitewashing' Ghost in the Shell by casting Scarlett Johansson|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=January 16, 2015|access-date=April 14, 2016}}</ref><ref name="BBC">{{cite web|title=Is Scarlett Johansson casting Hollywood 'whitewashing'?|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-36083113|work=BBC News|date=April 19, 2016|access-date=April 4, 2017}}</ref><ref name="The Wrap">{{cite web|last=Fuster|first=Jeremy|url=https://www.thewrap.com/ghost-in-the-shell-fans-not-happy-about-whitewashed-american-remake/|title='Ghost In The Shell' Fans Not Happy About 'Whitewashed' American Remake|work=TheWrap|date=April 14, 2016|access-date=April 14, 2016}}</ref> Pavan Shamdasani of ''[[Asia Times]]'' wrote: "The original is about as Asian as things get: Japanese cult manga, ground-breaking anime, Hong Kong-inspired locations, Eastern philosophy-based story. Most of that's been downright ignored with its big-screen adaptation, and Scarlett Johansson's casting as the dark-haired, obviously originally Asian lead sent netizens into a rage."<ref name="Shamdasani">{{cite news|url=https://asiatimes.com/article/short-history-cinematic-whitewashing/|title=Whitewashing the Great Wall: A short history of cinematic whitewashing|last=Shamdasani|first=Pavan|date=January 28, 2017|work=[[Asia Times]]|access-date=February 2, 2017}}</ref> In April 2016, ''[[ScreenCrush]]'' reported that the filmmakers had commissioned the use of CGI and other [[visual effects]] testing to alter Johansson's appearance to make her appear East Asian,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screencrush.com/ghost-in-the-shell-whitewashing-scarlett-johnasson-vfx/|title=Exclusive: 'Ghost in the Shell' Producers Reportedly Tested Visual Effects That Would Make White Actors Appear Asian|last=Sampson|first=Mike|date=April 14, 2016|work=[[ScreenCrush]]|access-date=April 19, 2016}}</ref> spurring further backlash.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://metro.co.uk/2016/04/17/max-landis-says-scarlett-johansson-taking-asian-ghost-in-the-shell-role-wasnt-whitewashing-5822174/|title=Max Landis says ScarJo's Ghost In The Shell casting wasn't whitewashing|last=Flint|first=Hanna|date=April 17, 2016|work=Metro|access-date=June 12, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2016/04/18/ghost-in-the-shell-just-one-example-of-all-white-everything-asian-adaptations.html|title=Ghost in the Shell just one example of all-white-everything Asian adaptations|date=April 18, 2016|work=Toronto Star|last1=Patch|first1=Nick|access-date=June 12, 2016}}</ref> Paramount stated the tests were short-lived and did not involve Johansson.<ref name="Child2">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/apr/18/max-landis-denies-defence-of-scarlett-johansson-ghost-in-the-shell|title=Max Landis: there are 'no A-list female Asian celebrities' who could have taken Scarlett Johansson's Ghost in a Shell role|last=Child|first=Ben|date=April 18, 2016 |access-date=April 18, 2016|work=The Guardian}}</ref> Some fans and industry employees argued that the controversy was a symptom of Hollywood's fear that casting non-white actors would bring less profit.<ref name="Child2"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/23/opinion/why-wont-hollywood-cast-asian-actors.html|title=Why Won't Hollywood Cast Asian Actors?|last=Chow|first=Keith|date=April 22, 2016|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=May 28, 2016}}</ref> Marc Bernardin of the ''Los Angeles Times'' wrote that "the only race Hollywood cares about is the box office race".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-racial-erasure-essay-20160418-story.html|title=Hollywood's glaring problem: White actors playing Asian characters|last=Bernardin|first=Marc|date=April 18, 2016|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=April 19, 2016}}</ref>

In Japan, many fans were surprised that the casting had sparked controversy, since some had already assumed that a Hollywood production would cast a non-Japanese actress. One fan felt that the appearance of the protagonist was immaterial due to the franchise's themes of self-identity and the blurring of artificial and natural bodies.<ref name="Blair2"/> Others pointed out that casting any actress of non-Japanese Asian descent (such as Chinese), may have been more controversial in the country.<ref name="Yoshida">{{cite web|url=https://theringer.com/ghost-in-the-shell-scarlett-johansson-western-anime-adaptations-3e31aeb7f906|title=Lost in Translation|last=Charity|first=Justin|date=March 30, 2017|work=The Ringer|access-date=March 30, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Blair2">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/scarlett-johansson-ghost-shell-japanese-885462|title=Scarlett Johansson in 'Ghost in the Shell': Japanese Industry, Fans Surprised by 'Whitewashing' Outrage|last=Blair|first=Gavin J.|date=April 19, 2016|quote=Some Japanese commentators on Twitter suggested that not too much attention should be paid to the physical appearance of the actress, because the dominant themes in ''Ghost in the Shell'' are the nature of identity and cyborgs used to host cyber-brains. 'There's been a lot of criticism from foreign fans about the casting of Scarlett Johansson as Motoko Kusanagi in the movie adaptation of ''Ghost in the Shell'',' wrote @janyojanyo. 'It's about artificial bodies, so you may as well think of it as her using a white cyborg...'.|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=April 20, 2016}}</ref> ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' spoke to a group of female [[Japanese Americans|Japanese-American]] actors, including [[Keiko Agena]], about the film; the actresses argued that Japanese natives are not upset by the film because of Western [[Feminine beauty ideal|beauty standards]] held in Japan.<ref name="Sun">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/ghost-shell-4-japanese-actresses-dissect-movie-whitewashing-twist-990956|title='Ghost in the Shell': 4 Japanese Actresses Dissect the Movie and Its Whitewashing Twist|last=Sun|first=Rebecca|date=March 21, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|quote=The movie opened Friday, and The Hollywood Reporter invited four actresses of Japanese descent to watch Ghost in the Shell on opening weekend and participate in a candid discussion about the film, its whitewashing charges and working conditions for actresses of color in Hollywood.|access-date=April 5, 2017}}</ref> According to Justin Charity of ''Ringer'', "your average Japanese citizen's outlook on diversity is much less influenced by [[Pluralism (political philosophy)|pluralism]] than the outlooks of many Asian Americans, who live in a country where popular culture rarely represents them well, if at all. Hence, many Japanese Americans may find Johansson's casting in a ''Ghost in the Shell'' movie distressing, while native Japanese observers make nothing of it."<ref name="Yoshida"/>

Paramount released a featurette of [[Mamoru Oshii]], director of the anime films, visiting the studio, in which he says that Johansson exceeded his expectations for the role.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sheridan |first=Wade |url=http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Movies/2016/11/11/Ghost-in-the-Shell-featurette-Original-director-Mamoru-Oshii-praises-Scarlett-Johansson/1151478870706/ |title='Ghost in the Shell' featurette: Original director Mamoru Oshii praises Scarlett Johansson |work=UPI.com |date=November 11, 2016 |access-date=April 1, 2017}}</ref> Oshii told [[IGN]] that the Major uses an assumed body and name, "so there is no basis for saying that an Asian actress must portray her... I can only sense a political motive from the people opposing it, and I believe artistic expression must be free from politics."<ref>{{cite web|last=Osborn|first=Alex|title=Original Ghost in the Shell Director Mamoru Oshii Has No Problem with Live-Action Remake |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/03/21/original-ghost-in-the-shell-director-mamoru-oshii-has-no-problem-with-live-action-remake |work=IGN |date=March 21, 2017|access-date=March 22, 2017}}</ref> During a launch event in Tokyo, director [[Rupert Sanders]] said of Johansson: "There are very few actresses with 20 years' experience who have the [[cyberpunk]] ethic already baked in. I stand by my decision{{mdash}}she's the best actress of her generation."<ref>{{cite web|last=Blair |first=Gavin J. |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/ghost-shell-watch-first-trailer-946859 |title='Ghost in the Shell': Watch the First Trailer |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=November 13, 2016 |access-date=April 4, 2017}}</ref> Addressing the controversy, producer [[Steven Paul]] referred to the film's setting as "an international world" with characters of numerous nationalities.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cheng|first=Susan|title='Ghost in the Shell' Producer Explains Why The Film's Approach Is 'the Right Approach' |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/susancheng/ghost-in-the-shell-producer-defends-scarlett-johanssons-role |work=[[BuzzFeed]] |date=July 1, 2016 |access-date=July 5, 2016}}</ref>

Sam Yoshiba, director of the international business division at Kodansha's Tokyo headquarters, which holds the rights to the ''Ghost in the Shell'' series, said: "Looking at her career so far, I think Scarlett Johansson is well cast. 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."<ref name="Blair2"/><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2016/07/01/ghost-in-the-shell-scarlett-johansson-producer-comments-casting|title='Ghost in the Shell' producer comments on Scarlett Johansson's casting|last=Romano|first=Nick|date=July 1, 2016|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=July 1, 2016}}</ref> Johansson said of the backlash: "I certainly would never presume to play another race of a person. Diversity is important in Hollywood, and I would never want to feel like I was playing a character that was offensive. Also, having a franchise with a female protagonist driving it is such a rare opportunity. Certainly, I feel the enormous pressure of that{{mdash}}the weight of such a big property on my shoulders."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.marieclaire.com/celebrity/a25191/scarlett-johansson-march-2017-cover/|title=Nothing's Stopping Scarlett|last=Hauser|first=Brooke|date=February 6, 2017|work=[[Marie Claire]]|access-date=March 31, 2017}}</ref>

The film attracted further criticism for its ending, which reveals that Johansson's character was originally a Japanese girl.<ref name="Truffaut-Wong"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://moviepilot.com/p/ghost-in-the-shell-scarlett-johansson-whitewashing/4236682 |title=Ghost In The Shell: Is Scarlett Johansson's Role Still Whitewashing? |work=Movie Pilot |date=March 31, 2017 |last=Opie |first=David |access-date=March 31, 2017 |archive-date=May 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519065706/https://moviepilot.com/p/ghost-in-the-shell-scarlett-johansson-whitewashing/4236682 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Media Action Network for Asian Americans accused Johansson of lying when she said she would never play the role of a person of a different race than her own.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ge |first=Linda |url=https://www.thewrap.com/scarlett-johansson-is-lying-about-ghost-in-the-shell-whitewashing-asian-group-says/ |title=Scarlett Johansson Is 'Lying' About 'Ghost in the Shell' Whitewashing, Group Says |work=TheWrap |date=March 31, 2017 |access-date=April 1, 2017}}</ref> Japanese-American actress Ai Yoshihara, speaking to ''The Hollywood Reporter'', said she felt the twist was "white people trying to justify the casting". Another Japanese-American actress, [[Atsuko Okatsuka]], said: "Hanka Robotics [the corporation in the film] is making a being that's the best of human and the best of robotics. For some reason, the best stuff they make happens to be white."<ref name="Sun"/>

During the opening monologue for the [[76th Golden Globe Awards|2019 Golden Globe Awards]], co-host [[Sandra Oh]] alluded to the issue of whitewashing in Hollywood by joking that ''[[Crazy Rich Asians (film)|Crazy Rich Asians]]'' (2018) was "the first studio film with an Asian-American lead since ''Ghost in the Shell'' and ''[[Aloha (2015 film)|Aloha]]''".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sharf |first1=Zack |title=Emma Stone Shouted 'I'm Sorry' When Called Out for 'Aloha' Whitewashing at the Golden Globes |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/01/emma-stone-yells-im-sorry-aloha-whitewashing-golden-globes-1202033185/ |website=[[IndieWire]] |access-date=December 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108010542/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/01/emma-stone-yells-im-sorry-aloha-whitewashing-golden-globes-1202033185/ |archive-date=January 8, 2019 |language=en |date=January 7, 2019}}</ref>

==Accolades==
The film was nominated in two categories for the [[Hollywood Post Alliance]] (HPA) Awards, and was also nominated for the "Most Innovative Advertising" category at the [[Motion Picture Sound Editors]]' Golden Reel Awards.<ref>{{cite web|title=Live-Action Ghost in the Shell Film Nominated for 2 HPA Awards|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-09-28/live-action-ghost-in-the-shell-film-nominated-for-2-hpa-awards/.121964|website=Anime News Network|access-date=September 29, 2017 |date=September 28, 2017}}</ref> It won the 12th annual HPA Award for "Color Grading".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Giardina|first1=Carolyn|title=HPA Awards: 'Dunkirk' Wins Best Editing in a Feature|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/hollywood-professional-association-awards-winners-2017-list-full-1058842|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=November 18, 2017 |date=November 16, 2017}}</ref>

The film was on the [[Academy Awards]] shortlist for the category of Visual Effects,<ref>{{cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |title=Visual Effects Oscar Shortlist Is Out: From Blockbusters To Specialty Pics |url=https://deadline.com/2017/12/visual-effects-oscar-shortlist-last-jedi-dunkirk-logan-shape-of-water-1202219851/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=January 1, 2020 |date=December 4, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='Star Wars,' 'Blade Runner,' 'Shape of Water' Advance in Oscars VFX Rac3|url=https://twitter.com/TheWrap/status/942848547241656320|work=TheWrap|access-date=December 19, 2017 |date=December 18, 2017}}</ref> and was shortlisted for Hair and Makeup, but was not nominated for either category.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Pedersen|first1=Erik|title=Oscars: Makeup & Hairstyling Shortlist Trims Field To Seven With 'Bright', 'Guardians 2' & More|url=https://deadline.com/2017/12/oscars-makeup-hairstyling-shortlist-bright-darkest-hour-guardians-of-the-galaxy-2-1202229892/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221005208/http://deadline.com/2017/12/oscars-makeup-hairstyling-shortlist-bright-darkest-hour-guardians-of-the-galaxy-2-1202229892/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 21, 2017|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=December 19, 2017|date=December 19, 2017}}</ref>

It was also nominated for Best Contemporary Make-up by the Make-Up and Hair Guild.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tapley |first=Kristopher |title='Darkest Hour,' 'Wonder,' 'Saturday Night Live' Lead Make-Up and Hair Stylists Guild Nominations|url=https://variety.com/2018/artisans/awards/darkest-hour-wonder-saturday-night-live-lead-make-up-and-hair-stylists-guild-nominations-1202654053/|access-date=5 January 2018|work=Variety|date=5 January 2018}}</ref> On October 23, 2018, the film's composer [[Lorne Balfe]] received the "Top Film Score" award at the [[American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers|ASCAP]] London Music Awards.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Garner |first1=George |title=Steve Mac, Stefflon Don, Tom Walker and more win big at 2018 ASCAP London Music Awards |url=http://www.musicweek.com/media/read/steve-mac-stefflon-don-tom-walker-and-more-win-big-at-2018-ascap-london-music-awards/074203 |website=[[Music Week]] |access-date=October 25, 2018 |date=October 23, 2018}}</ref>

==Possible sequel==
Scarlett Johansson discussed the possibility of a sequel before the film's release, and said she would do it on the condition that Rupert Sanders return as director. Sanders also expressed interest in a sequel as well.<ref>{{cite news|title=Scarlett Johansson wants a Ghost In The Shell sequel on one condition (exclusive)|url=https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/movies/scarlett-johansson-wants-a-ghost-in-the-shell-sequel-on-one-condition-exclusive-121348408.html|access-date=29 August 2024|work=Yahoo! Movies|date=29 March 2017}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
[[Taylor Swift]]'s music video "[[...Ready for It?]]" referenced scenes from the film.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Amatulli|first1=Jenna|title=Taylor Swift's 'Ready For It' Channels 'Ghost In The Shell,' And People Aren't Happy|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/taylor-swifts-ready-for-it-channels-ghost-in-the-shell-and-people-arent-happy_us_59f36dc4e4b07fdc5fbdeced|website=[[Huffington Post]]|access-date=November 24, 2017|date=October 27, 2017}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Portrayal of East Asians in Hollywood]]
* [[Postcyberpunk]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* 2017: David S. Cohen: ''The Art of Ghost in the Shell'', Titan Books, {{ISBN|978-1785655272}}
* 2017: [[James Swallow]] & Abbie Bernstein: ''Ghost in the Shell: The Official Movie [[Novelization]]'', Titan Books, {{ISBN|978-1785657528}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Ghost in the Shell (2017 film)}}
* {{Tumblr|ghostintheshell|Official page}}
* {{IMDb title|1219827}}
* {{Mojo title|ghostintheshell2017}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|ghost_in_the_shell_2017}}
* {{Metacritic film}}

{{Ghost in the Shell}}
{{Rupert Sanders}}
{{Ehren Kruger}}
{{Authority control}}

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