Scarlett Johansson says Ghost in the Shell film starts production in 2016

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Scarlett Johansson is, thanks to her Black Window character in the Marvel films and her very surprising summer hit LUCY, today’s hottest female action star. Who saw that coming? She probably has about 10 more Marvel movies in her future, but she’s gearing up to star in a new action franchise: GHOST IN THE SHELL.

It was confirmed earlier this year that Johansson had been cast in the live-action adaptation of the popular anime, which is being directed by Rupert Sanders and produced by Steven Spielberg. And while we may have a little while to wait for the film to hit (April 2017), we now know when it’ll commence production.

In an interview with Collider, Johansson said this about the film’s status:

 It’s happening. It will be shooting the beginning of next year, so I think we start production January or February and it’s me and Rupert [Sanders]; and that’s all I know.”

Well, you’ve got to assume she knows a bit more than that, but at least we’ve got confirmation that the movie’s still on track.  Avi Arad and Steven Paul are producing the film from a script by William Wheeler. Mark Sourian is exec producing. Dreamworks will co-finance.

GHOST IN THE SHELL 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.