With the popularity of Marvel and DC comic book adaptations, it's only a matter of time before there's a big push to get manga and anime adaptations on the big screen. One project that has been in the works for a number of years is a live-action film based on Ghost in the Shell, and a director is now on board.
According to Deadline, DreamWorks has hired Snow White and the Huntsman's Rupert Sanders to direct the movie. The script has been written by William Wheeler and will be produced by Avi Arad, Ari Arad and Steven Paul. For those who aren't familiar with Ghost in the Shell, here's a little background info on the anime release:
"2029 – A female cybernetic government agent, Major Motoko Kusanagi, and the Internal Bureau of Investigations are hot on the trail of "The Puppet Master", a mysterious and threatening computer virus capable of infiltrating human hosts. Together, with her fellow agents from Section 9, they embark on a high-tech race against time to capture the omnipresent entity. GHOST IN THE SHELL took the world by storm, exhibiting a new dimension of anime with unprecedented, mesmerizing cinematic expression. Seamlessly merging traditional cel animation with the latest computer graphic imagery, this stunning sci-fi spectacle challenged the boundaries of mainstream animation with detailed artistic expression and a uniquely intelligent story line."
This project is still in the early development stages, so we do not have casting news or a release date yet. It was also mentioned in the original report that Rupert Sanders has a couple of other projects in the works, so it's known if Ghost in the Shell will be the project he works on first. We'll keep Daily Dead readers posted on any developments.