Ghost In The Shell Concept Art Of Margot Robbie As Major

In September 2014, a year after her breakout performance in Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street, Margot Robbie was offered the lead role in Rupert Sanders's live-action adaptation of Ghost in the Shell. However, just one month later, negotiations between her agent and DreamWorks fizzled, so she moved on and entered negotiation to play Harley Quinn in Warner Bros.' Suicide Squad. Without missing a beat, the studio turned to Scarlett Johansson, who gladly snatched up their $10 million offer.

Although Robbie wasn't attached to the project for all that long, conceptual artists were under the impression that she would eventually come on board, so some of their artwork includes Robbie's likeness. And two of those artists, Jeff Simpson and Nivanh Chanthara, have now released their concept art of Robbie as wearing Major's thermoptic suit.

Check out their art by clicking on "START SLIDESHOW."

"I spent a tiny amount of time doing pre-production work for the new Ghost in the Shell. These were done back in 2013? 2014? When Margot Robbie was gonna be the lead," Simpson wrote. "Only spent a few days on it, but it was fun."

Chanthara wrote: "At this time, the project wasn't even greenlighted and Margot Robbie was considered for the role. It was an incredible rush and one of the first time I had to produce so much in a very small period of time."

Based on the internationally-acclaimed sci-fi property, Ghost in the Shell follows the Major (Scarlett Johansson), 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 Robotic's advancements in cyber technology.

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The cast also includes Beat Takeshi Kitano as Daisuke Aramaki, Juliette Binoche as Dr. Ouelet, Michael Pitt as Kuze, Pilou Asbæk as Batou, and Kaori Momoi. The members of Section 9 are played by Chin Han, Danusia Samal, Lasarus Ratuere, Yutaka Izumihara and Tuwanda Manyimo.

Snow White and the Huntsman helmer, Rupert Sanders, is directing.

Ghost in the Shell will be released in the U.S. on March 31, 2017.