Ghost In The Shell: 10 Big Talking Points From The Trailer

When it comes to discussing Ghost In The Shell, there’s really no getting around this thorny debate. Logically if you’re going to cast a character named Major Motoko Kusanagi with Scarlett Johansson, it might seem a touch insensitive.

We all know Hollywood operates purely on the cold, hard quest for cash. If they want to launch a potentially huge franchise will a female lead, they’re going to seek out the biggest actress they can find regardless of race. They did that with Johansson, but rather than owning the decision to make the character American, they instead carried out tests to see if they could make her appear subtly Asian. Good intentions or no, that leaves a bad taste, which has only added fuel to the fire.

Maybe the movie will explain this change rationally or make her ethnicity part of her feeling of disconnect from the world around her, but for now, the only thing the trailer tells us is that she looks badass in the role.

Are you excited about Ghost In The Shell? And what do you think of the "whitewashing" issue? Share your thoughts in the comments thread.