DreamWorks has acquired the rights to the Japanese animated franchise "Ghost in the Shell" for a live action remake.

According to Variety, DreamWorks beat out Universal and Sony for the remake rights after studio honcho Steven Spielberg took a personal interest in the property, which would be a 3-D thriller.

Masamune Shirow created "Ghost in the Shell" as a manga franchise in 1989. Mamoru Oshii directed its first theatrical incarnation, which was followed by two sequels. "Ghost in the Shell" was also adapted into a long-running anime TV series, several books and a number of video games.

Simply put, "Ghost in the Shell" focuses on a special unit of the Japanese National Public Safety Commission fighting technology-related crime at some point in the future. It's more complicated than that, but this probably isn't the time or place to geek out.

It's unclear if the Japanese setting would be maintained for the live-action DreamWorks adaptation.

The trade says that Jamie Moss will adapt the new "Ghost in the Shell" for producers Avi Arad, Ari Arad and Steven Paul of Seaside Entertainment.