One of the more controversial bits of movie news of 2014 so far was the announcement that, after years of false starts, more than one different script and the recent sad passing of Harold Ramis, Sony was restarting development on a new "Ghostbusters" movie, putting it in the hands of director Paul Feig, who plans to focus on a team of female Ghostbusters.
We say controversial, but it’s only caused a fuss among man-babies who don’t like girls playing with their toys. But it may not matter so much now, because the idea has won the approval of a fairly significant figure, in the shape of original Ghostbuster, and long-time sequel holdout, Bill Murray. And he’s even got some casting suggestions.
The star is in the Great White North for the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival, for the premiere of new film "St. Vincent," and while doing press, was asked about the new idea by Schmoes Know. Murray responded, "It sounds great to me. It sounds as good an idea as any other! There are a lot of women that could scare off any kind of vapor! No, it’s a grand idea. I don’t know who they’re talking about, but it’s a good idea, i would watch it! I mean, I love Robert Palmer’s videos, so why wouldn’t I love the female Ghostbusters?" The Robert Palmer bit is a little condescending, but still, a resounding thumbs up.
Murray had even more to say to the Toronto Star, suggesting a few potential name for who could fill the old beige uniforms. "Melissa [McCarthy, Murray’s co-star in "St. Vincent"] would be a spectacular Ghostbuster. And Kristen Wiig is so funny—God she’s funny! I like this girl Linda Cardellini a lot. And Emma Stone is funny. There are some funny girls out there."
Fine suggestions all (we particularly like Murray’s tip of the hat to the often undervalued Cardellini). It’s still probably unlikely that the shake-up of the property would interest Murray, who reportedly ignored scripts for previous iterations, but who knows, perhaps if enough people he respects sign on, he could be persuaded to pop up at some point. We’re still some way from any official announcement here. Feig has to finish up comedy "Spy," starring McCarthy and should-also-be-a-Ghostbuster Rose Byrne, first. But Murray’s casting suggestions are as good as any we’ve heard so far.
I don't inherently have any problem with having female Ghostbusters, but marketing the potential sequel/reboot with an "all-female" cast just makes it sound more like a gimmick than an actual, fully fleshed-out idea.
I think Emma Stone would be fine as a Ghostbuster. I would love to see Kristen Wiig as a Ghostbuster. But you know who I'd love to see even more than that? Bill Hader. I think that having the chemistry of former SNL stars was a significant reason the original cast worked so well together. Wiig has more range than a lot of people realize, but Bill Hader has just blown me away on several occasions.
I worship at the altar of Gozer, but I really don't want to see a half-formed idea get pushed through, just for the sake of doing it. Give me a mostly female cast, but please just don't turn it into a gimmick.
I would rather see Jona Hill as a Ghostbusters than Miss McCarthy
I think an all girl cast would back fire.Ihave huge
Respect for Bill Murray but is this something that Ramis and Rietman sign off on since they are the original producers? An Miss McCarthy is funny but is not Ghostbusters material.
I think that an all female cast would be a huge mistake. I
Eat breath and sleep Ghostbusters and if they can't get it down
To be as good as the original I say don't kill a classic
I trust the genius behind 'Freaks and Geeks' with anything. This looks promising.
There you go – make the Ghostbusters sequel ALSO a Bridesmaids "sequel". Bring the cast of Bridesmaids back as the New Ghostbusters! Genius!