It looks like the live action adaptations of cartoons are going to continue with Ghost In The Shell. We get wind of this news thanks to the professionals at Variety:
DreamWorks has acquired rights to the Japanese manga “Ghost in the Shell” with plans to adapt the futuristic police thriller as a 3-D live-action feature. Story follows the exploits of a member of a covert ops unit of the Japanese National Public Safety Commission that specializes in fighting technology-related crime. Created by Masamune Shirow, “Ghost in the Shell” was first published in 1989. It went on to generate two additional manga editions, three anime film adaptations, an anime TV series and three videogames. The second anime film, “Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence,” was released in the U.S. by DreamWorks in 2004.
Avi Arad, Ari Arad and Steven Paul of Seaside Entertainment are attached to produce and brought the project to the studio. Jamie Moss has been tapped to pen the adaptation.
I saw half of Ghost In The Shell years ago and have been meaning to watch it again in its entirety. I am a robot/cyborg enthusiast and this film looks to be a celebration of all these things. I know the film is beloved by many and looks to be one of the most talked about manga of all time.
Avi Arad is on board to produce and Jamie Moss (who recently wrote Street Kings) has been tapped to write the film. I cannot say I am comforted with this news. I have never forgiven Arad for the storm cloud (nor will I ever) and I have nothing against Moss, but I would certainly prefer a seasoned sci fi veteran to pen this project. People love this story and it should be adapted with the utmost care and talent.
I love that this film will be 3-D because I go ga ga for the medium. I am uncertain that this story will be better as a live action piece as opposed to a cartoon however. I can see the need for a ton of CGI and if that is the case, I wonder if realism is just a waste of resources. If they are able to make crazy cyborg prothesis, and an android laboratory however, my tune will change quickly. Robot labs have all the charm of a doll maker’s shop; only the creations in the robot shop may surpass the ability of the creator when the switch is thrown.
International friends – are you interested in seeing a live action Ghost In The Shell film; or would you prefer them to leave well enough alone?
Anyone knows the release date?
Gits has three major problems:
– deep characters and storyline
– high expectations (adapted for massive audiences)
– location
I have seen the SAC series and thought that damn, I.G. really knows how to intrigue its fans with good plot twists and deep philosophical issues. Then I thought about how that made me feel, like when I felt good when Section 9 made some progress in the case, and outwitted the bad guys. Then I thought how other similar movies gave me those same feelings. And then, it hit me, Ocean’s 11. E.g. Pitt / Damon / Clooney could fit well for the role of Batou. Hell, even Roberts could play Motoko. Kusanagi is a very deep character, and If Spielberg wants to make it good, they need to have some academy-level cast in there. So combine the smoothness of Oceans 11, with the action / suspense of Bladerunner and the drama of Street Kings, and you might have a blockbuster. The location (set in futuristic Japan) might even not be that big an issue, because the story is actually set in a city that is called: New Port City. This could be like the next Hong Kong, so English speaking citizens would be very common.
Yeah there is a C missing in Aquire. But I’m worried about this. I mean, if a North American company, much less Dreamworks, is taking production of this to a live action 3-D film, it’s gonna be really REALLY washed out. Considering that anime can go to extreme lengths and be aired to anyone who wants to see, I don’t really think it would be easy for the many “new gen” anime hungry teens out there to walk in the theatre to watch this thing, not with the North American rating system. Plus, it’s damned good the way it is.
Yeah It would be a decent idea to make it into a live action, but the question of character choice, scene removal…. hell it being in bloody english, would be a case in question for me. I’ll go see it if it comes through, but right after I’m laying my ass on the couch, grabbing me some nachos, and going for a 4 hour ride on the original anime version express of Ghost…
Dreamworks is going to ruin a work of art, just like only hollywood can totally ruin some amazing stories.
oh BTW, ur missing the “C” in “acquire”, atleast when i typed this message.
Nooooo! Leave good anime films alone. There is a reason jp anime films are animated! It because they look shitty live action. If you dont believe it wait till you see the DBZ movie.
The original movie has not aged well, and aftr watchign Oshii’s other stuff it seems to follow the same lines of “trying to be more meaningful than it actually is.”
I hope that if they do make it that it’s the action packed blockbuster that Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex season 1 was, because frankly some of that was fantastic.
Hmmm…..thinking….
I….
(((flips coin…)))
Deep six this now.
See, it’s like this. What’s the opening image of the first Ghost In The Shell? In animation, you can get away with it. In a live action film, you might have to change that em, “iconic” image. The film would border on NC-17, not just for that, but the violence too. There’s also what other films have borrowed from Ghost, (lookin’ at you, Tomb Raider!) and when all is said and done…there can be only one conclusion
Water that sumbitch down!
Wasn’t Akira already tailored for a live action, or, did that one go flunk?
This is one of those things were, if it’s a big success, i can see Robotech, Starblazers, Akira, you name it, not far behind.
I love the two first ‘Ghost in the Shell’ movies. I have mixed feelings about it being turned into live action though. I’m sure they’ll be kicking the philosophical musings to the curb, which would be the sad part in my opinion. They should try to make it as strange as the first two, which I doubt they’ll do since they want it more mainstream I’m sure…oh hell just get Mamoru Oshii to direct this one too! I don’t think anything will beat the anime versions at this point though…
sigh…now watch them ruin this too…damn hollywood, come up with some original ideas…
John fixed the missing letter earlier this morning. He’s messing with all your minds
It is there now. My best guess is years of drug abuse and poodle sex addiction have magically caught up with me. The side effect of seeing a missing letter is a little odd though. Or side effect of removing one letter from a complete word…..
I am looking for the missing l and do not see it.
You are never an ass for pointing out errors, you are doing me a favor.
Oh, and I hate to be a jackass, but you’re missing an ‘l’ on the title. Just thought I’d be the ass today.
I have my reservations on this–both delighted and confused how well the S.A.C animated series went–but, depending on how they treat the characters will pin it for me. It’s understandable that the characters will change, as they did from paper to screen, but I’m weary of watching some of my favorite persona drastically changed to draw larger audiences.
And the 3D part? Eh, sounds nice.
I wish PIXAR had a stab at this rather than DREAMWORKS.