Ghost In a Shell

Set in a near-future society where the line between humans and technology is increasingly blurred, the stunningly imagined live-action feature Ghost in the Shell traces the origins of Major, the first successful cyberenhanced human and leader of the crime-fighting force Section 9.

Since the publication of Masamune Shirow’s original manga in 1989, Ghost in the Shell has inspired a devoted worldwide following, including influential filmmakers like Steven Spielberg, James Cameron and the Wachowskis. The epic media franchise already includes two landmark anime feature films and two television series, as well as novels, video and mobile games.

Over the past three decades the popularity of Ghost in the Shell has continued to grow as its central themes have become more pertinent. “It’s a cautionary tale about technology,” says producer Avi Arad, the former Chairman, CEO and founder of Marvel Studios. “Ghost in the Shell raises interesting philosophical questions in a futuristic setting, but it also happens to be relevant to issues we face right now. It’s about what defines us as individuals — our history versus our actions. And it does all that in the context of a big, exciting action film.”

The film began its long journey to the screen, when Avi Arad pitched the project to Steven Spielberg — with help from an unexpected source. “I ran into Steven and his young daughter on the beach in Malibu,” he recounts. “She knew everything you can imagine about Ghost in the Shell. She did the pitch for me. That started the ball rolling.” Classificatio: 15