One of the most anticipated films of 2017, Ghost in the Shell, has a lot riding on it for better or for worse. On one hand, it’s an adaptation of one of the most recognizable anime films of all time, one that influenced the works of numerous filmmakers, most notably the Wachowskis in The Matrix. On the other hand, the film has been the subject of controversy in its decision to cast Scarlett Johansson in the lead role, something that has been attributed to whitewashing. Nevertheless, for people worried that this upcoming remake might ruin the original film’s legacy, now they have a chance to re-watch the classic film on the big screen once again.
An announcement today revealed that Lionsgate and Funnimation Films have teamed up to give a limited release date for the original Ghost in the Shell in 110 select theaters. The film will be premiered on February 7th and 8th, with the subtitled version of the film airing on the former date and the English dub on the latter. “We’re excited to be partnering with Lionsgate to bring the original Ghost in the Shell movie back to U.S. theaters,” Gen Fukunaga, CEO and founder of Funimation, said in a statement. “Ghost in the Shell is truly a seminal work in anime cinema and it helped firmly establish a market for the genre with U.S. movie audiences.” In addition, Lionsgate will be releasing a deluxe, re-mastered edition of the film on Blu-Ray and DVD March 7, in conjunction with the live-action film’s theatrical debut.
Ghost in the Shell takes place in the futuristic world of 2029, a science-punk society in which humanity is electronically connected through a series of cybernetic bodies known as “shells.” One of these shells is Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cybernetic government agent who works with the Internal Bureau of Investigations. Serving as the team leader of Public Security Section 9, Kusanagi and her team must work together to catch the elusive “Puppet Master,” a mysterious hacker capable of infiltrating human hosts.
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