Alita: Battle Angel in cinemas this December

Winona Ryder was linked to play Alita: Battle Angel back in the mid-nineties with director James Cameron (Avatar) at the helm. This December, Robert Rodriguez's live-action cyberpunk movie, produced by James Cameron and Jon Landau, is released in theatres.



"From visionary filmmakers James Cameron (AVATAR) and Robert Rodriguez (SIN CITY), comes ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL, an epic adventure of hope and empowerment. When Alita (Rosa Salazar) awakens with no memory of who she is in a future world she does not recognize, she is taken in by Ido (Christoph Waltz), a compassionate doctor who realizes that somewhere in this abandoned cyborg shell is the heart and soul of a young woman with an extraordinary past. As Alita learns to navigate her new life and the treacherous streets of Iron City, Ido tries to shield her from her mysterious history while her street-smart new friend Hugo (Keean Johnson) offers instead to help trigger her memories. But it is only when the deadly and corrupt forces that run the city come after Alita that she discovers a clue to her past – she has unique fighting abilities that those in power will stop at nothing to control. If she can stay out of their grasp, she could be the key to saving her friends, her family and the world she’s grown to love."

James Cameron has handed directing chores to Robert Rodriguez as he's in pre-production on sequels to Avatar. Presumably, these will go ahead following Disney's acquisition of Fox's film and television assets.



Alita: Battle Angel seemingly has far more heart and soul than Ghost in the Shell starring Scarlett Johansson. Comparisons to Detroit: Become Human and Ready Player One are... welcome. That said, Alita's divisive large eyes, in homage to the original manga created by Yukito Kishiro, speaks to the uncanny valley but with cutting-edge visual effects further honed, since the teaser trailer, due to the release date being pushed back from July to December. Alita will go up against Bumblebee this holiday season.

I've long loved Japanimation of which the live-action Alita: Battle Angel is so evocative. The opening shot from the trailer reminded me of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within and Avengers: Infinity War. The Spirits Within was released in the wake of PS2 and Aki Ross (Ming-Na), evidently based on Sandra Bullock, adorned magazine covers everywhere in the summer of 2001. The hype was real. So much so, I discussed the upcoming movie with fellow PlayStation fans during lunch breaks. Whilst The Spirits Within was a critical flop and lead to the closure of Square Pictures, the CGI animation was phenomenal and holds up. Mostly.

Alita: Battle Angel, directed by Robert Rodriguez, stars Rosa Salazar, Eiza González, Jennifer Connelly, Michelle Rodriguez, Mahershala Ali, Christoph Waltz, and Jackie Earle Haley. It will be in cinemas 21st December.

Really looking forward to this and it stars my other teen crush, Jennifer Connelly. What are your thoughts on Alita: Battle Angel? Let me know in the comments below.

Watch footage from the beginning of Ghost in the Shell

Paramount Pictures has released five minutes of footage from director Rupert Sanders' upcoming live-action adaptation of Japanese Manga Ghost in the Shell, starring Scarlett Johansson.

Here’s the official synopsis:

"Based on the internationally-acclaimed sci-fi property, “GHOST IN THE SHELL” follows the Major, a special ops, one-of-a-kind human-cyborg hybrid, who leads the elite task force Section 9. Devoted to stopping the most dangerous criminals and extremists, Section 9 is faced with an enemy whose singular goal is to wipe out Hanka Robotic¹s advancements in cyber technology."



The movie has courted controversy surrounding the casting of Johansson as Major. However, the footage reveals stunning art direction underscored by composer Clint Mansell (Moon). Mansell's known to Mass Effect fans for his haunting orchestrations in Mass Effect 3.

Ghost in the Shell is in cinemas 31st March.

Scarlett Johansson's Ghost in the Shell

Scarlett Johansson is taking a break from her iconic role as Black Widow, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, to play Major in director Rupert Sanders' upcoming live-action adaptation of Japanese manga Ghost in the Shell.

Her cyborg character leads an elite task force called Section 9.



There have been accusations of "whitewashing" in the wake of Johansson's casting and calls to boycott the Paramount Pictures movie.

Responding to the controversy, the acclaimed actress told Marie Claire: “I certainly would never presume to play another race of a person. Diversity is important in Hollywood, and I would never want to feel like I was playing a character that was offensive.”

“Having a franchise with a female protagonist driving it is such a rare opportunity,” she added. “Certainly, I feel the enormous pressure of that – the weight of such a big property on my shoulders.”

Ghost in the Shell is in cinemas 31st March.

Scarlett Johansson cast in Ghost in the Shell

Scarlett Johansson is taking a break from playing Black Widow, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, to take the controversial lead in Hollywood's long-gestating live-action remake of Ghost in the Shell.

The actress adroitly played a mesmeric alien in director Jonathan Glazer's divisive Under the Skin, which riffed on the enigmatic cinema of Stanley Kubrick and The Man Who Fell to Earth.

I've not seen Ms Johansson's turn in Luc Besson's Lucy, but am intrigued at the prospect of seeing her play Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg cop.

See Black Widow back in action this April in Avengers: Age of Ultron.