Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence
Release Date
07-06-2025
It’s been over two decades now since Mamoru Oshii directedInnocence, the underrated sequel to 1995’sGhost in the Shell, Oshii’s cult classic based on the manga by Shirow Masamune. Yet despite the years that have passed, recent comments by Oshii and a producer at Production I.G have opened a window through which a third film might be made, albeit with a price tag.
Earlier in March,Oshii attended a 20th Anniversary eventforInnocencealongside lead actor Akio Otsuka, the Japanese voice of Batou, wherein Oshii discussed the possibility of a third film. He stated at the time that it almost happened and that the project “did not come to fruition” but expressed that he remained interested in directing it should the opportunity present itself.
What’s Standing in Oshii’s Way?
Were the story just left at that, there wouldn’t be much to say on the matter. Over the years, there have been countless enticing anime projectsput in creative limbo, fromNinja Scroll 2toDespera, and Ghost in the Shell 3 has had less substantive pre-production than either of those two. When the status of such dormant projects is brought up, any director’s stated desire to bring them to fruition is the PR equivalent of saying “Yeah, that would be cool.”
But then, less than a month after Oshii’s statement, Production I.G’s Mitsuhisa Ishikawa said something that put the possibility of a new sequel into perspective. On Saturday, at the Niigata Animation Film Festival, the co-founder/producer said that the only thing preventing the film from being greenlit was the task of recouping the cost of Oshii’s lastGhost in the Shellfilm. According to Ishikawa, the cost ofInnocencewas around 2 billion yen, or around $18 million.
How Much More to Earn A Sequel?
For the most eagerGhost in the Shellfansout there, the next question that comes to mind is likely some variation of “How much more money do they need?” Unfortunately, even 20 years later, it’s still a ways away. According to Box Office Mojo, Innocence made a total of $9,811,571 worldwide, with a little over $7.8 million from just Japan alone. There was a re-release last year, but it only accounts for an added gross of $311,744, culminating in a little over $10 million total.
Given the recent anniversary, there were screenings of both of Oshii’sGhost in the Shellfilms in Japan, but even without concrete box office data, a two-week screening wouldn’t have made a dent. Disheartening as it may be for one eager to see a sequel, it’s not too surprising either. The originalGhost in the Shellwasn’t a huge box-office successin Japan, but it became a sensation worldwide thanks to home video releases, making it the classic it is remembered as today.
Could Ghost in the Shell 3 Still Happen?
If there’s any hopeful takeaway from Ishikawa’s comments, it’s that not only is there a clear goalpost to makingGhost in the Shell 3a reality, but there is also passion behind the idea. So while box office numbers might make it seem fruitless, the franchise’s reputation for coming back again and again should be a sign that anything is possible. Like with the original film’s success overseas, it might come down to the fans. Ishikawa said it best:
“I want to see [Ghost in the Shell 3] too, so please spread the word about Innocence.”
When people rave aboutGhost in the Shell, they tend to talk about either the 1995 originalor the TV series,Stand Alone Complex, both of which are rightfully lauded for their artistry.Innocence, on the other hand, tends to be the niche favorite in an already comparably niche franchise, but as we’ve written before, it’s a severely underrated film. In recent years, however, that has started to change thanks in part to the re-releases, but also because people are talking about it more.
Innocenceis perhaps the trippiest entryin this franchise to date, bearing a grim and depressive atmosphere so thick that it feels dreamlike. Not only that, it’s the only entry in the series where the Major is not the protagonist, which lets Batou shine as a result, creating a wholly unique kind of addition to the franchise. Nonetheless, its philosophical ponderings are quintessentiallyGhost in the Shell, as is its envelope-pushing visual style.
Ok, butShouldGhost in the Shell 3 Still Happen?
From the 2010s and onward,Ghost in the Shell’s recent entries have faced a bit more scrutiny.Arisegets praise for its action design, music, and expectedly clean visual aesthetic, but its writing tends to lack the focus, intrigue, or raw existentialism of past entries.Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045had a lot going for it, including the return of director/writer Kenji Kamiyama, but its 3D art style was a tough sell, even for such a thoroughly nostalgic project.
Production I.G is also not the same studio it once was, a fate true of many legendary anime studios, and though that’s hardly a death sentence, an over-reliance on nostalgiacanbe. TheFLCLsequels are a prime example of trying to capture lighting in a bottle again and again, and Production I.G was all over them. Even some fans on forums interpret Ishikawa’s comments as an underhanded tactic to get more sales.
Of course, that might seem a tad harsh, but it’s not hard to understand some pessimism. Art should be finite and perhaps the Mamoru OshiiGhost in the Shellshould be left alone. Some might even say the same about the franchise in general, though speaking as a fan,let’s wait until after Science Saru’s upcoming seriesto make that judgment call. In the meantime, now’s a great opportunity to watchInnocenceand share it with others. Whether it gets us a sequel or not, it’s never too late to appreciate a good movie.
