10 Upcoming Movie Adaptations Of Japanese Anime (And If They Will Work)

The Anime:

This cult manga turned hit anime is set in a future in which the world is interconnected by a vast electronic network that pervades every aspect of human life. Many people have access to the network via shells (cybernetic bodies) that possess their consciousness whilst giving them superhuman abilities, though when a mysterious man known as the Puppet Master threatens this network, cyborg Major Motoko Kusanagi is tasked with hunting down the elusive hacker.

What We Know:

DreamWorks and Steven Spielberg acquired the rights to the Ghost in the Shell live-action remake back in 2008, with Snow White and the Huntsman helmer Rupert Sanders eventually confirmed as director. Margot Robbie was in talks for the lead role of The Major (it is unclear at this stage if the name Motoko will be anglicised) though her casting in Suicide Squad put an end to discussions and DreamWorks ended up shelling out $10 million for Scarlett Johansson's signature.

Will It Work?

The casting of Johansson as opposed to a Japanese actress caused some controversy (especially when it emerged that the studio had considered and subsequently abandoned the idea of using CGI to make her look more Asian) but in reality she was cast because of her star status rather than her skin colour - the only race Hollywood execs care about is the race to first spot on opening weekend.

The move could well backfire, however. Ghost in the Shell does bear some similarities to Luc Besson's Lucy, another Johansson vehicle that paints her as a cold and near-superhuman killer, and her most famous role is the similarly bad-ass Black Widow. The producers would have been better served casting an unknown actress (preferably a Japanese one) as the Major to avoid association/comparison with Johansson's recent work and stay true to the material.

Which of these anime adaptations are you most excited to see? Share your reactions below in the comments thread.