Contrary to prior reports suggesting Sam Riley would play the villain in the live-action Ghost in the Shell movie, Hannibal and Boardwalk Empire actor Michael Pitt has reportedly joined the cast as film's big bad.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Pitt will star as The Laughing Man, the iconic villain fans of the manga know all too well as the extremist leader who's hellbent on twarting the efforts of Hanka Robotics.


Pitt joins Scarlett Johansson, who plays the female lead, a cyborg named Motoko Kusanagi. Additionally, Game of Thrones actor Pilou Asbæk is on board as Batou, Kusanagi's second in command.

Despite the film's recent shift from Disney to Paramount, Ghost in the Shell is still on track to open in theaters on March 31, 2017. Rupert Sanders will direct with Jonathan Herman writing the script. Production is expected to begin later this month in New Zealand.