Only one original 'Ghostbusters' cast member does not support all-female reboot
She wasn’t a Ghostbuster but she fell in love with one — so who better than Sigourney Weaver to weigh in on the cast of the “Ghostbusters” reboot?
The 65-year-old star who played Peter Venkman’s romantic interest Dana in the 1984 film and its follow-up, has revealed she is in complete support of the all-female cast recently announced for the franchise reboot, including Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones.
"I think it’s awesome, I hope to see some of those guys at ‘Saturday Night Live’ on Sunday, you know they’re having the 40th anniversary," Weaver told ET Canada. “I think it’s awesome, well done. You go girls, can’t wait.”
Last year during the Toronto film festival, Bill Murray — Venkman in “Ghostbusters” — appeared to set the cast in motion when he put forward his suggestions.
“Melissa would be a spectacular Ghostbuster,” he told the Toronto Star of Melissa McCarthy, his “St. Vincent.” co-star. “And Kristen Wiig is so funny — God, she’s funny!”
Though the reboot eventually went with those two women (upon his advice?), it did not go with Murray’s other two choices, Linda Cardellini or Emma Stone, opting instead for “Saturday Night Live” stars McKinnon and Jones.
But Canadian actor Dan Aykroyd doesn’t mind. The man who played Ray in the original “Ghostbusters” released an effusive statement about the new cast two weeks ago.
"The Aykroyd family is delighted by this inheritance of the ‘Ghostbusters’ torch by these most magnificent women in comedy," it read, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “My great grandfather, Dr. Sam Aykroyd, the original Ghostbuster, was a man who empowered women in his day, and this is a beautiful development in the legacy of our family business.”
The only living member of the original “Ghostbusters” crew who is not on board with the all-female cast is Ernie Hudson, who played Winston.
"I heard it was going to be a total reboot, and that it would have nothing to do with the other two movies," he told The Telegraph in October. “If it has nothing to do with the other two movies, and it’s all female, then why are you calling it ‘Ghostbusters’?”
The 69-year-old “Hot in Cleveland” star then proceeded to put his foot in his mouth by making a somewhat sexist comment.
"I love females. I hope that if they go that way at least they’ll be funny, and if they’re not funny at least hopefully it’ll be sexy," he said. "I love the idea of including women, I think that’s great. But all-female I think would be a bad idea. I don’t think the fans want to see that."
Original “Ghostbusters” director Ivan Reitman left the reboot after Harold Ramis, who played Egon in the original, died last February. “Bridesmaids” director Paul Feig eventually took the Canadian filmmaker’s place and announced the new cast on Jan. 27.
"Ghostbusters" will return July 22, 2016.
