Mamoru Oshii Supports Scarlett Johansson’s Casting in Ghost in the Shell

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Scarlett Johansson has been causing quite the stir lately! Not only did the actress cause a commotion with her new short blonde hairdo, but she raised quite a bit of controversy with her latest film, “Ghost in the Shell.”

Scarlett Johansson with her new short blonde hairstyle at the premiere of "Ghost In The Shell"Scarlett Johansson with her new short blonde hairstyle at the premiere of “Ghost In The Shell” at Le Grand Rex in Paris on March 21, 2017 (Credit: WENN)

Mamoru Oshii, the renowned Japanese director behind the original 1995 film “Ghost in the Shell,” has weighed in on the controversy regarding Scarlett Johansson’s casting as Major in the live-action adaptation.

Contrary to concerns about whitewashing, Oshii extended his support and stated, “I believe having Scarlett play Motoko was the best possible casting for this movie.” He argued that because the character Major Motoko Kusanagi is a cyborg, the issue of race is irrelevant.

Scarlett Johansson's casting as Major Mira Killian / Motoko Kusanagi in the 2017 film Ghost in the Shell was criticized for whitewashingScarlett Johansson’s casting as Major Mira Killian / Motoko Kusanagi in the 2017 film Ghost in the Shell was criticized for whitewashing (Credit: Paramount Pictures)

“What issue could there possibly be with casting her?” Oshii told IGN. “The major is a cyborg and her physical form is an entirely assumed one.”

“The name ‘Motoko Kusanagi’ and her current body are not her original name and body, so there is no basis for saying that an Asian actress must portray her. Even if her original body (presuming such a thing existed) were a Japanese one, that would still apply.”

“In the movies, John Wayne can play Genghis Khan, and Omar Sharif, an Arab, can play Doctor Zhivago, a Slav. It’s all just cinematic conventions,” he explained.

“If that’s not allowed, then Darth Vader probably shouldn’t speak English, either. I believe having Scarlett play Motoko was the best possible casting for this movie. I can only sense a political motive from the people opposing it, and I believe artistic expression must be free from politics.”

Scarlett Johansson grabbed everyone's attention in a head-to-toe Azzedine Alaïa outfitScarlett Johansson grabbed everyone’s attention in a head-to-toe Azzedine Alaïa outfit (Credit: WENN)

In the film, Scarlett Johansson’s character does not wear a wig. Instead, her hair was transformed with a black dye, accentuated by blue tips.

Scarlett isn’t a stranger to on-screen action, and she’s back again with her latest adventure-packed film based on the anime of the same name.

The actress arrived in Paris, France, to premiere “Ghost in the Shell” with her French fans. Scarlett and the rest of the cast spoke briefly about the film at the Le Grand Rex.

Scarlett Johansson echoed her two-tone look with her Alaïa clutchScarlett Johansson echoed her two-tone look with her Alaïa clutch (Credit: WENN)

Scarlett kept things uncomplicated by pulling out an entire outfit from Azzedine Alaïa.

Her actual outfit, however, was anything but boring. The actress combined a geometric patterned top with a fur skirt, a clutch, and a grommet-studded pair of ankle boots.

Scarlett Johansson wears a pair of Alaïa's signature studded and scalloped bootsScarlett Johansson wears a pair of Alaïa’s signature studded and scalloped boots (Credit: WENN)

The working mom complemented her edgy new do with gold and pearl earrings from Zolotas.

Scarlett Johansson enjoys a night out after the film's premiere in a geometric-patterned top with a fur skirtScarlett Johansson enjoys a night out after the film’s premiere in a geometric-patterned top with a fur skirt (Credit: WENN)

As edgy as Scarlett may look, we’re pretty disappointed by her outfit. The usually flawless Azzedine Alaïa dressed Scarlett in an outfit that looked like a combination of a Power Ranger and an English soldier’s bearskin hat.

The two-tone palette didn’t help with offsetting her bizarre outfit combination.

Scarlett Johansson seemed in good spirits as she interacted with her French fansScarlett Johansson seemed in good spirits as she interacted with her French fans (Credit: WENN)

If anything, at least Scarlett was in a good mood when she met with her French fans. The actress spoke about what drew her to her character, a cyberterrorist survivor named Mira Killian, who was given a cyborg body after losing it in the attack.

Scarlett said it was interesting to play a character who had to deal with her complicated inner being conflicting with her robot body. In a separate interview, Scarlett joked that she was ready to put down her guns.