New Ghost in the Shell photo offers BTS look at Scarlett Johansson's Major

Few upcoming films have had to endure as much controversy as the live-action adaptation of Japanese manga series Ghost in the Shell. The casting of Scarlett Johansson in the lead role of Major Motoko Kusanagi has seen many accuse the film of whitewashing, and it doesn't look like the issue is going away any time soon.

In any case, the film is now deep into production, and a new behind-the-scenes photo featuring Johansson, director Rupert Sanders, and anime legends Mamoru Oshii, Kenji Kamiyama, and Kenji Kawai has landed online.

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Thanks to the GITS cast&crew for having M.Oshii, K.Kawai, K.Kamiyama on set & for their respect towards their work. pic.twitter.com/HYpq7pKb1ZJune 27, 2016

Oshii, Kamiyama, and Kawai have all been involved in various adaptations of Ghost in the Shell, and as such their approval could go a long way to convincing naysayers that Sanders' film will be respecting the source material. Whether that will be enough to overcome Johansson's controversial casting is anyone's guess.

Directed by Rupert Sanders and starring Scarlett Johansson, Pilou Asbaek, Michael Pitt, Takeshi Kitano, Juliette Binoche, Kaori Momoi, and Chin Han, Ghost in the Shell is released in cinemas on March 31, 2017.

Images: Paramount/Production I.G.

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Amon is a contributing editor and columnist for Empire magazine, but is also a Film and TV writer for GamesRadar+, Total Film, and others. He has also written for NME, Composer Mag, and more, along with being a film critic for TalkSport. He is also the co-host of the Fade to Black Podcast, and a video mashup creator. Can also do a pretty good Bane impersonation.