Johansson brings Japanese classic to life

BOB THOMPSON

POSTMEDIA NETWORK Scarlett Johansson portrays a cyber-enhanced squad leader in Here are things you need to know:

The film is based on the acclaimed Japanese Kodansha Comics manga series written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow. The internationally popular books first appeared in 1989. The franchise has already inspired two anime films, two television shows, and assorted spinoffs, including novels, video and mobile games. Johansson’s Major in

is a hybrid of some previous humanoid roles. In the actress played the drug-induced payback assassin capable of otherworldly feats. Her Black Widow in the Marvel superhero movies is nearly as formidable.

has Johansson’s Major battling terrorism when hackers start turning good into evil even as her cyber-self starts questioning the purpose and origins of her existence. (Attention Philip K. Dick fans.)

fame, prepared a 110-page graphic novel to lay out his narrative intentions for his cinematic exercise. He says he knew immediately Johansson was the perfect “cyber-punk queen” to bring Major to life, so to speak.

Showing up on the Hong Kong sets as guests were Mamoru Oshii, director of the two previous animated films, and Kenji Kamiyama, the TV show runner. And while Hong Kong and Shanghai provide some scenic opportunities for futuristic skylines and bizarre slums, was mostly shot in Wellington, New Zealand. The sound stages and the WETA post-production facilities were attuned to meshing live action with digital effects after Peter Jackson shot The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit

is set in a PanAsian world that includes multiple creeds and races. So the international cast of actors are from the U.S., Japan, Denmark, China, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada, among many other countries. Waving the Canuck flag with a brief appearance in the movie is Toronto-born Michael Wincott, who had a recent twoepisode arc as Old Bill on HBO’s