The Hollywood live action adaptation of the popular classic manga Ghost in the Shell held its world premiere on Thursday 16 March 2017 in Japan. The studio wished to hold the first screening in the story’s country of origin. The red carpet event was sponsored by Den’nou LED carpet.
At the event were 2016’s highest-paid actress Scarlett Johansson; director Rupert Sanders whose talent has even been acknowledged by Steven Spielberg; Takeshi Kitano, who portrays Scarlett Johansson’s boss Daisuke Aramaki; Pilou Asbæk, who plays the popular character Batou; and French actress Juliette Binoche, who visited Japan for the first time in 8 years!
Other participating guests were Kaori Momoi, Rila Fukushima, Yutaka Izumihara, and Kaori Yamamoto, as well as the producers Avi Arad, Ari Arad, Michael Costigan, and Steven Paul.
The stars walked down the 35-meter Den’nou LED red carpet and, in the spirit of the movie, lights and animations fused the digital world with the analog one.
Everyone gave a short comment on the red carpet.
Scarlett Johansson: ‘Hello! I’m really excited to be here. It’s very fitting and deeply touching to bring this film here for the world premiere.’
Takeshi Kitano: ‘This live action is amazing. Scarlett held up the cue card for me during filming, that is a remarkable event that should be recorded in history!’
Kaori Momoi: ‘Scarlett is the most amazing actress, the most amazing woman!’ Scarlett hugged her tight in return.
Pilou Asbæk: ‘I am thankful to Japan. I am sure this movie will satisfy all the fans.’
Juliette Binoche: ‘To be able to act in such a great production was an honor and refreshing experience. I am happy to be back in Japan after such a long time.’
Rupert Sanders: ‘I am happy that all of us who worked on the movie came to Japan first. I am happy I could work on a story that I started liking when I was younger.’
Rila Fukushima: ‘It is an honor to have worked on this wonderful movie.’
Yutaka Izumihara: ‘It is my greatest memory. To have worked on this is an honor.’
Kaori Yamamoto: ‘Because this was my first time working on something like this, it will all become a precious memory.’
After the stars fought their way to the main stage through a mass of interviews, pictures, and signs for waiting fans, everything in the venue changed into cherry blossoms with a pink hue, including the Den’nou carpet, to represent the start of spring the coming Monday. It was the first official display of cherry blossoms in Japan!
Since the movie will come out soon, we expect more news to come and MANGA.TOKYO will keep you updated!
Released in Japanese theaters 7 April 2017.
Please check your local theaters for the release dates in your country
http://www.ghostintheshellmovie.com/
(C)MMXVI Paramount Pictures and Storyteller Distribution Co. All rights Reserved.
The first season of the new year is just one month away from its finale. It was a great start with many amazing titles that made these past months worth the extra hours we put in front of our sets. Now, it is time for the cold wind to give way to the pink hues of the sakura tree and for the Winter 2018 season to give the anime baton to Spring 2018.
