Dreamworks' adaption of the classic Japanese animated film 'Ghost in the Shell' is moving along quite nicely. Variety has just announced that Danish actor Pilou Asbæk has just signed on to star opposite Scarlett Johansson.
The original Ghost in The Shell was released in 1995 and has since spawned a wildly successful media franchise of sequels, TV spin-offs, manga, and video games.
The film is set in a futuristic Japan where mankind has the ability to store their consciousness in highly advanced synthetic 'shells' which gives users near superhuman abilities. The plot follows Maj. Motoko Kusanagi, a cybernetic police agent on the trail of a mysterious hacker known as 'The Puppet Master.'
Asbæk will be playing Batou, a skilled member of Kusanagi's unit who aids in her search for the mysterious villain.
A relative unknown in the States, Asabaek's resume includes numerous appearances in European film and television productions. His most notable credit is the Danish political drama Borgen, which saw him star as Kasper Juul, a political advisor with a dark murky past. He will also be appearing in season six of HBO's Game of Thrones next year as Euron Greyjoy.
Interestingly enough, this isn't the first time Asbæk has worked with Johansson. He had a minor role in Universal's Johansson-fronted action film Lucy, which made over $463 million worldwide last year. Her upcoming credits include the Coen Bros. Hail Caesar! and Captain America: Civil War.
Avi Arad and Steven Paul are said to be producing "Ghost in Shell", while the script is being penned by Jonathan Herman. Michael Costigan, Jeffrey Silver, Tetsu Fujimura, Mitsuhisa Ishikawa will also serve as executive producers while Rupert Sanders is slated to direct the futuristic film.
The film is set for a March 31, 2017 release.
