Pilou Asbaek (Lucy, “The Borgias“) has joined the cast of DreamWorks Pictures adaptation of the classic manga series, Ghost in the Shell. Asbaek has been cast in the role of Batou, one of Section 9’s best fighters and a high-ranking army officer. He joins his Lucy lead, Scarlett Johansson, who is portraying the lead. It still hasn’t been confirmed at this time as to whether or not she is playing protagonist Motoko Kusanagi or some variation on the character…or someone entirely different.
The Japanese property is a massively popular one, having been adapted into three animated feature films, two animated series and a TV movie, and multiple video games. DreamWorks Pictures has been developing a live action film based on the property for a few years now, with Steven Spielberg himself even flirting with directing it at one point. Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman) will now direct the project, from a script by William Wheeler. Paramount Pictures is co-producing the film and handling overseas distribution, while Touchstone Pictures will handle its domestic release. Production on the adaptation is scheduled to begin early next year ahead of a March 31st, 2017 release.
