'Ghost in the Shell': Sanders Goes in Detail on His Vision and Shelling Sequence
It's only a matter of time before the live adaptation of "Ghost in the Shell" arrives in cinemas. To further increase hype for the film, director Rupert Sanders and the rest of the team have shared their thoughts about the conceptualization and what makes the shelling sequence iconic.
In a featurette, Sanders said that the world of "Ghost in the Shell" is something that has caught his imagination and felt the obligation to enrich it further on the big screen. Scarlett Johansson, who plays the role of the protagonist Major, confirms this, saying, "Rupert is really a visionary and has completely created an homage to the manga, to the anime fans, but has put his thumbprints all over this project."
Since the film takes place in a distant future, Sanders wanted to make a depiction that is different from others. Despite the city having an avant-garde look, it is infested with references to technology from the past, such as an 80s car and a 90s machine gun. He carefully combined seemingly contrasting elements in order to achieve a harmonious blend.
While the setting itself creates the mood and takes audiences to a different world, perhaps the most important part that Sanders placed much attention to is the shelling sequence. He aimed to make it as realistic as possible that they created an actual skeleton shot in the film.
Workshop and Shelling Sequence supervisor Rob Gillies showed a glimpse of Major's skeleton, which is a close depiction of Johansson from height to body built. Each part was carefully manufactured in order to provide more detail, and that is something to marvel at when it hits the theaters.
"Ghost in the Shell" delves into the domain of self-realization and knowing one's place in the world, revealing more humanity than cyborg-esque ethics. The film is set to be released in cinemas on March 31, 2017.