News > Spielberg to Make "Ghost in the Shell" in 3-D

Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks Entertainment has acquired the screen rights to Japanese manga "Ghost in the Shell," and they have plans to adapt the cyber-punk thriller as a 3-D live action feature. The film will follow the story of Motoko Kusanagi, a member of the covert operations section of the Japanese National Public Safety Commission, which specializes in technology-related crime.

The character has gone through a series of incarnations since being created by Masamune Shirow in 1989. According to Variety, the series generated "two additional manga editions, three anime film adaptations, an anime TV series and three videogames. The second anime film, 'Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence,' was released in the U.S. by DreamWorks in 2004."

Avi Arad ("X-Men," "Spider-man") and Steven Paul of Seaside Entertainment are producing. Spielberg will executive produce, and his interest is said to be a major reason the film is being made. "'Ghost in the Shell' is one of my favorite stories," Spielberg said. "It's a genre that has arrived, and we enthusiastically welcome it to DreamWorks." Jamie Moss ("Street Kings") is writing the screenplay.

-David Morgan