'Ghost In the Shell' Movie News Updates: Scarlett Johansson as Motoko Kusanagi?

Scarlett Johansson is officially confirmed to star in DreamWorks Studios' adaptation of "Ghost in the Shell," which is based on the popular Japanese anime of the same title.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the anime follows the story of Motoko Kusanagi, "a member of a covert counter cyber-terrorist organization, which specializes in fighting technology-related crime in mid-21st century Japan." The Japanese manga was created by Masamune Shirow and started initial production in 1989. It was previously made into an animated film in 1995, the report added, with a sequel which aired in 2004.

"The sci-fi saga is set in a futuristic society where technology has allowed humans to replace their body parts with cybernetic gear. Some citizens even have a full-body prosthesis, with only a 'cyberbrain' containing the original soul. Unfortunately, the technology also makes brains susceptible to hijacking," SlashFilm reports.

Rupert Sanders ("Snow White and the Huntsman") will direct the film adaptation, with Bill Wheeler penning the script, Entertainment Weekly adds. Avi Arad and Steven Paul will serve as producers, while Mark Sourian will executive produce.

Variety also reports that Paramount Pictures is interested to co-produce and finance "Ghost in the Shell." Confirmation about the production company going on board for the upcoming film will come out in the coming weeks.

The news outlet also notes that DreamWorks' principal partner, Steven Spielberg, has long expressed interest on steering "Ghost in the Shell" to the big screen. "A commitment from a star like Johansson should help in getting the pic greenlit for production," the news outlet writes. Accordingly, the actress is the only cast member attached in the movie so far.

"The Wolf of Wall Street" actress Margot Robbie was previously in negotiation to star in the film, according to The Telegraph.

This isn't Johansson's first venture on being an action star. The actress previously starred in 2014's "Lucy" and "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," which, according to Variety, displayed Johansson's "nice job of balancing action-heavy tentpoles with serious dramas and comedies." She was also in "Her" opposite Joaquin Phoenix and in "Hail, Caesar!" by the Coen brothers.

Johansson will also appear in Jon Favreau's "The Jungle Book" and in the upcoming movie "The Avengers: Age of Ultron" as Natasha Romanoff a.k.a. Black Widow, SlashFilm notes.

The 30-year-old actress married Romain Dauriac in a private ceremony on October 1 in Philipsburg, Montana. The couple has a baby daughter named Rose, Daily Mail reports. Johansson previously divorced actor Ryan Reynolds, who is now married to Blake Lively.