Animation company Production I.G has received permission from Kodansha to act as an agent to develop a live-action film with a Hollywood studio based on Ghost in the Shell.
Negotiations with American entertainment companies have not been a strong point for Japanese Anime and Film studios in the past. However, hopes are high that a project involving Ghost in the Shell would be more successful due to the significant number of people in the American film business who are fans of the series. The size of the North American fanbase for Ghost in the Shell is also a factor.
As the producers of the original Ghost in the Shell manga by Shirow Masamune, Kodansha still retains rights to the series. Production I.G. produced the feature length anime films Ghost in the Shell and Innocence: Ghost in the Shell, as well as the Stand Alone Complex TV Series. According to the new contract with Kodansha, Production I.G. will represent the creators of the original work and other involved parties in negotiations for distribution of the Live-Action Ghost in the Shell and all other activities involved with production of the film.
Production I.G. is already accustomed to working with major film and TV companies in North America. The studio negotiated directly with major film company DreamWorks for distribution of Innocence and is producing the series IGPX with Cartoon Network. Since the popularity of Ghost in the Shell in North America was a result of the anime produced by Production I.G., many are hopeful that a live-action film supported by the company will experience a similar level of success.
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