Ghost in the Shell is a futuristic police thriller dealing with the exploits of Motoko Kusanagi, a member of the covert operations section of the Japanese National Public Safety Commission, Section 9, which specializes in fighting technology-related crime. She may be named after one of the three Imperial Regalia of Japan and Shirow makes reference to them at the end of the second manga. Although supposedly equal to all other members, Kusanagi fills the leadership role in the team, and is usually referred to as "the Major" due to her past rank in the armed forces. She is capable of superhuman feats, and bionically specialized for her job — her body is almost completely mechanized; only her brain and a segment of her spinal cord are organic.

Dreamworks bought the rights for making a movie for Ghost in the Shell. Other companies like Universal and Sony where also intressted. Spielberg took a personal intrest into it. He said: "that Ghost in the Shell is one of his favorite stories and is "a genre that has arrived and we enthusiastically welcome it to DreamWorks".

It'll be written by Jamie Moss, who wrote the screenplay to Street Kings. Ex-Marvel CEO Avi Arad and Steven Paul will both produce. A director has not been announced yet.