Michael Pitt joins Ghost in the Shell adaptation as Laughing Man

Actor Michael Pitt has been cast as the villain opposite Scarlett Johansson in the long-awaited Ghost In The Shell movie remake.

The Boardwalk Empire star will portray the Laughing Man, who antagonises Johansson's cyborg detective in the new adaptation of the popular Japanese manga series.

Danish actor Pilou Asbæk has also landed a role in the live-action sci-fi film, which will reunite him with his Lucy co-star Johansson.

Snow White and the Huntsman's Rupert Sanders is directing the project, which is expected to begin production in New Zealand later this month (Feb16).

It is the second film adaptation of the Ghost in the Shell series created by Masamune Shirow - director Mamoru Oshii previously took charge of an animated version in 1995.

The DreamWorks release is set to hit movie theaters in March, 2017.