This is slightly older news but it’s worth noting none-the-less.
Deadline has revealed that the Disney/Dreamworks’ live-action adaptation of Ghost In The Shell will be released on April 14th, 2017. This date is a bit revealing and confirms that production won’t begin in the spring/summer as expected.
We have to assume this delay allows recently announced female lead Scarlett Johansson (Her, Lost In Translation, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Lucy) enough time to finish-up many other films projects which include Disney’s live-action Jungle Book film from director Jon Favreau, Hail, Caesar! from The Coen Brothers, not to mention her confirmed involvement in Captain America: Civil War that starts production in April.
She would also need an extended period of time to go on the massive international press tour for Avengers: Age of Ultron.
I heard originally that Ghost In The Shell and Civil War had competing production dates which led me to believe that Johansson might have to sit-out of the Captain America sequel. Scarlett’s reported $10M deal to lead Shell made sense it would become a greater priority.
Luckily, the two projects are at the same studio so Scarlett will be able to to make both films. Disney obviously needed her badly for Civil War which makes since since she’ll have a larger role like she did in Winter Soldier as is said to have in Age of Ultron.
My assumption is that Shell‘s production has been delayed until late 2015 or early 2016 to accommodate Scarlett’s busy schedule.
This isn’t all bad news, a delay gives director Rupert Sanders (Snow White And The Huntsman) and his creative team plenty of time to develop amazing production art, props, sets, costumes, along with tightening-up the script and casting the rest of the roles with strong actors.
SOURCE: DEADLINE