The upcoming "Ghost in the Shell" movie has released its first full-length trailer, garnering positive feedback from audiences and critics. However, many have still voiced concerns of white-washing the lead role, casting Scarlett Johansson instead of an Asian actress. Director Rupert Sanders has now addressed the controversy surrounding the issue.
"I think whenever you cast someone, someone's going to be critical of it. To me, I stand by my decision. She's the best actress of her generation, and I was flattered and honored that she would be in this film. So many people that were around the original anime have been vehemently in support of her because she's incredible, and there are very few people like her," he told Cinema Blend.
The report also points out that Johansson is a very optimal choice, given the range of performances she has done since she first started acting in 1994. She is also known for taking on action-filled roles, and she has dived into science fiction films before, particularly for roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, "Lucy," and "Her."
Sanders' statement was also supported by Mamoru Oshii, the director of the original 1995 animated film. Oshii had stated Johansson's portrayal of Major Motoko Kusanagi exceeded his expectations, and he claimed that the live action film would be one of the best iterations of the series.
It should also be noted that even in the original manga, anime series, and animated films, the Major is never explicitly Japanese. This is because the only organic parts left of her are her brain cells while her entire body is a machine. This was a result of her body being destroyed in a plane crash. It is possible her original self may have been Japanese, but her custom machine body could be of any gender, race, and design.
"Ghost in the Shell" opens in theaters on March 31, 2017.
