‘Ghost in the Shell’ launch trailer focuses on four key characters

With Scarlett Johansson as the face and cyborg-suited body of “Ghost in the Shell”, a final trailer for the imminent release narrows in on roles for Juliette Binoche (Dr. Ouélet), Pilou Asbaek (Batou) and Michael Pitt (Kuze).

As a live-action Hollywood adaptation, “Ghost in the Shell” is based on a series of animated films, comic books and TV series.

Juliette Binoche’s character, Dr. Ouélet, has been created especially for the movie and she contrasts with Michael Pitt’s powerful hacker Kuze, urging fully cyborg and fiercely independent character The Major to use her superhuman abilities to help other people.

As The Major, Johansson ends up in a conflict between the two, but finds that fellow task force member Batou is steadfast in his reliability.

Motifs repeated from previous trailers include The Major using her bodysuit’s invisibility feature to fell a gun-wielding combatant in a shallow pool of water, and burst into a hostage situation.

Rupert Sanders directs, having made his debut with “Snow White and the Huntsman” in 2012. Global theatrical rollout commences March 29, 2017, with a North American opening from March 31.

The movie opens in the Philippines on March 29, Wednesday. JB

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