Margot Robbie out, Johansson in.
Back in September it was revealed that Margot Robbie (‘Focus,’ ‘The Wolf Of Wall Street’) was being lined up for the lead in a live-action take on Masamune Shirow’s classic anime ‘Ghost In The Shell.’ Well it appears that is no longer the case, as Deadline’s Mike Fleming is hearing that ‘Lucy’ and ‘ Under the Skin’ star Scarlett Johansson has now been offered the film.
Should Johansson put pen to paper and commit to the project, she would be playing a member of a covert ops unit of the Japanese National Public Safety Commission that specializes in fighting technology-related crime.
Rupert Sanders (‘Snow White and the Huntsman’) is in the director’s chair for the film, with Bill Wheeler (‘Hoax, ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’) providing the script. Avi Arad, Steven Paul, and Mark Sourian are producing.
Robbie was reportedly close to boarding before talks “fizzeled.” The actress is believed to be now eyeing a role in Warner Bros’ DC Comics property ‘Suicide Squad.’