'Ghost in the Shell' director addresses Scarlett Johansson controversy

Ghost in the Shell director has cast Scarlett Johansson as the lead role of a Japanese film.

A Japanese anime has been surrounded by controversy since the lead role of the anime's film adaptation, Ghost in the Shell, has been given to white American actress, Scarlett Johansson. The actress plays the role of the The Major, which is adapted from the character Motoko Kusanagi. The first trailer of the film was released during an on stage interview in Tokyo, where British director, Rupert Sanders, addressed the controversy of casting Johansson for the role of a Japanese character.

According to The Verge, the director defended Johansson's casting.  He shared why she's different than the others who auditioned for the role.

Sanders explained that although the other actresses have experience and "the cyberpunk aesthetic already baked in," Johansson brought an element of edge.

"She’s got an incredible body of work and the attitude and toughness of her really is to me The Major."

He felt the actress did "an incredible job" bringing in the nuances of the character as the human side evolved.  He also explained how he felt the character had a "coming of age story" that was relatable for audiences.

The film's producer Steven Pau, also responded to the backlash. Paul stated the film was a "very international story and it wasn’t just focused on Japanese; it was supposed to be an entire world. That’s why I say the international approach is, I think, the right approach to it."

Regardless of the controversy, Johansson shared in the trailer that they were "are hard at work" producing the film. The actress expressed her gratefulness to have been cast and her excitement for others to see it.

Ghost in the Shell is set for release in theaters March 31, 2017.

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