In two months, the live-action American remake of Ghost in the Shell starring Scarlett Johansson will hit theaters, but first, a new generation of fans is going to get a chance to experience the original Ghost in the Shell anime film on the big screen.
According to Deadline, Lionsgate and Funimation are teaming up to bring the 1995 Ghost in the Shell movie back into U.S. theaters on February 7th and 8th. While only 110 screens will be participating in the two-night event, fans will be able to choose between the English dubbed version of the film or the Japanese version with subtitles. Lionsgate is also using the screenings as an opportunity to promote the upcoming Ghost in the Shell collector’s edition on Blu-ray and DVD on March 7. That release will include a remastered edition of the classic film.
The Ghost in the Shell manga was created in 1989 by Masamune Shirow, but it was the film adaptation by director Mamoru Oshii that solidified the property as one of the most popular anime movies of all time. Over two decades have passed since it was first released, but Ghost in the Shell is still in a class by itself. Even in America, Ghost in the Shell was extremely influential on the rise of anime, as well as on filmmakers like the Wachowskis, who openly acknowledged that The Matrix was heavily inspired by the film.
It will be a tall order for the American remake to match the cultural impact of the original, but the trailers for the film have suggested that it will feature several visual callbacks to its animated predecessor. We’ll be able to see that film for ourselves when it is released on March 31.
Are you excited about the opportunity to catch the first Ghost in the Shell in a movie theater? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
Image Credit: Shochiku