Director Mamoru Oshii appeared at a talk event in Tokyo on March 2, celebrating the simultaneous 4K remaster release of Innocence and GHOST IN THE SHELL. During the event’s Q&A session, Oshii expressed his enthusiasm for a sequel to Innocence.

This dual release marks the 20th anniversary of Innocence, the sequel to GHOST IN THE SHELL, which is set three years later in 2032. The event featured both Oshii, who directed and wrote both films, and Akio Otsuka, the voice of Batou.

During the event, there was a segment where participants answered questions with either a circle (yes) or a cross (no). When asked, "Do you want to make a sequel to Innocence?" Oshii raised the circle, drawing cheers from the audience. He explained, "There’s something I started in the third film... but there’s just one thing left unfinished. If I can do that, I want to make it happen." When the moderator pressed for details, Oshii grinned and said, "If I say too much, it might not happen."

Listening beside him, Otsuka added, "I think Oshii-san’s passion has reached everyone here directly. As a messenger of this vision, I hope you all carry this forward in your hearts," drawing laughter from the crowd.

Both films are adaptations of Masamune Shirow’s manga Ghost in the Shell, directed by Oshii. Innocence was originally released in theaters in 2004 and is now celebrating its 20th anniversary. This marks the first time the 4K remastered version is being screened.

GHOST IN THE SHELL is set in the year 2029, depicting the efforts of Public Security Section 9, an unofficial special operations force created to combat cybercrime and cyberterrorism in a highly networked society. Its sequel, Innocence, takes place in 2032 and focuses on Batou’s story.

Source : ORICON NEWS