Masamune Shirow’s Ghost in the Shell is a timeless classic that grapples with a wide number of themes. The anime adaptation accentuates some elements with its own interpretation of Shirow’s masterpiece. From the anime film to several video games, Ghost in the Shell has been adapted into various mediums. Yet there’s one version that is usually frowned upon for numerous reasons, the Ghost in the Shell Live Action (2017).
Scarlett Johansson played the main character in the live-action which landed the movie into a controversy prior to its release. Already starting on a rough note, the movie failed to appease the fans or live up to the expectations of the pre-existing fans of the series. And, somehow the other aspects of the movies were ignored with Johansson at the brunt of heavy criticism.
Scarlett Johansson on her Casting As Motoko in Ghost in the Shell
Directed by Ruper Sanders, the live-action film had Scarlett Johansson playing the role of Motoko Kusanagi. Motoko is a memorable female character who is very feminine, but that’s not all. She is skilled at combat, yet strength isn’t her only way of disarming her opponents. Her intelligence and reflective nature give her additional depth that’s interesting to delve into.
With her roles in several action movies, Scarlett Johansson sounds like the perfect actor to play Motoko. The combat skills, the beauty, and the femininity, Johansson checks off all the boxes. However, when she was asked if she was the right choice during an interview with Collider, her answer was a mix of confidence with a pinch of skepticism.
Oh gosh, now you’re going to bring in all of my insecurities. You know, I think… I don’t know if I was the right person, but I think Rupert and I shared the same vision for the character.
Johansson shared that both she and Rupert Sanders were on the same page that the audience would decide if she was the right choice or not. Her own approach was more focused on understanding the character and doing her best. She also said that she enjoyed the action sequences, and sympathized with Motoko for her experiences in life.
The Intense Backlash and Johansson at its Centre
The backlash was primarily focused on white-washing an inherently Japanese character. While the concerns of fans are understandable about straying from the source material and stripping a great opportunity from an Asian actor, casting Johansson makes some canonical sense. As Motoko’s body was just a shell. However, if that was the case then the moment she somewhat got her answers, they should have switched the actors. It would act as a mindful change that honored the original storyline.
Even then, Motoko Kusanagi, the name itself clarifies who would be more apt to play the character. So, they could have simply cast an Asian character who made more sense as a Motoko Kusanagi. While that didn’t happen, the whole backlash being targeted at the actor was an unfair event. Given how there were many other flaws that led to the underwhelming reception of the story.
The live-action made an attempt to set itself apart from the original with many changes. But, they also chose to stick with many scenes from the original, leading to a mix of anime-esque scenes with a completely different style of storytelling. Whenever this clash happens it’s evidently jarring.
Moreover, the story in the film simplified the original ideas and themes, disappointing the pre-existing fans. If it was not for the legacy of Ghost in the Shell, the live-action might have had a better reception. Being associated with Masamune Shirow’s highly regarded classic was the first sign of doom and then the controversy followed.
Ghost in the Shell is available to stream on Netflix, and the live-action is available on Prime Video.
