Scarlett Johansson Joins DreamWorks’ ‘Ghost In The Shell’

Actress Scarlett Johansson has signed on to star in DreamWorks’ anime-based, live-action thriller Ghost in the Shell, Variety exclusively reported.

The upcoming film is based on the Japanese manga series originally created by Masamune Shirow in 1989; the comic book was later adapted into an anime movie in 1995 of the same name. Set in the year 2029, the story will follow Major Motoko Kusanagi and her security agency squad members on their search for a malevolent hacker named the Puppet Master.

Rupert Sanders, who is best known for his work on Snow White and the Huntsman, will direct the script penned by Bill Wheeler. Ari Arad, Avi Arad and Steven Paul are set to produce Ghost in the Shell, with Mark Sourian on board as executive producer.

According to Deadline Hollywood, Johansson originally received the offer back in October to star in the film but was undecided at the time. The actress, who was last seen in Lucy, can be seen next in the May tentpole Avengers: Age of Ultron as Black Widow.

Check out the 1995 trailer of the anime film Ghost in the Shell below!