Ghost in the Shell is a 2017 science fiction action film[9] directed by Rupert Sanders and written by Jamie Moss, William Wheeler and Ehren Kruger, based on the Japanese manga of the same name by Masamune Shirow. It stars Scarlett Johansson, Takeshi Kitano, Michael Pitt, Pilou Asbæk, Chin Han and Juliette Binoche. Set in a near future when the line between humans and robots is blurring, the plot follows the Major (Johansson), a cyborg supersoldier who investigates her past. Filming for Ghost in the Shell took place in New Zealand from February to June 2016, with additional filming in Hong Kong that June. The film premiered in Tokyo on March 16, 2017, and was released in the United States on March 31, 2017, in IMAX, 3D, IMAX 3D, and 4DX.[10] It received mixed reviews, with praise for its cast performances, visual style, action sequences, cinematography and musical score, but criticism for its plot and lack of character development. The casting of white actors (particularly Johansson) drew accusations of racism and whitewashing in the United States,[11][12][13][14] despite Mamoru Oshii, director of the original anime, stating there was no basis for this accusation.[15] It grossed $169.8 million worldwide against a production budget of $110 million[7][8] and lost at least $60 million with more than $100 million being a possibility due to a disputed budget. [16] The film debuted at No. 2 on home media.[17]