A running theme for big-budget films in 2015 will be trying to make the old new again. Several iconic blockbuster franchises - including Jurassic Park and Star Wars, are returning to theaters many years after their previous installments, looking to capitalize on the nostalgia older moviegoers have for those brands while drawing in a new, younger audience at the same time.
Sony is looking to add Ghostbusters to that ever-expanding list of revitalized properties. One of the most popular films of the 1980s, the studio has called upon Bridesmaids helmsman Paul Feig to bring it back to the spotlight. As a way to differentiate the new take from what came before, the director is planning to reboot it by using an all-female cast to fight the paranormal. Casting rumors have popped up over the past few months, but now we know Sony's A-list wish list.
The hacking of Sony's servers have made a lot of the studio's plans public lately, and when executives weren't talking about potential Spider-Man deals with Marvel Studios or 21 Jump Street and Men in Black crossovers, they were discussing who could lead their new Ghostbusters film. As it turns out, they have their eyes set on some big names. Sony Co-Chairman Amy Pascall revealed a star-studded lineup in an email (hat tip Daily Beast) to Ivan Reitman, director of the original Ghostbusters:
"Paul's movie is gonna be the first one and from what I'm hearing Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone and Melissa McCarthy and Amy Schumer and [Lizzy] Kaplan just to name a few have already said thy wanted to be in...."
The email in question was sent on October 8, 2014, which was about two months before Pitch Perfect star Rebel Wilson said that she had a meeting with Feig about a role in the film. That could explain the absence of her name from this list, since a few of the actresses in the message have been, in one way or another, connected to the project before.
When Bill Murray revealed his picks for an all-woman Ghostbusting team, McCarthy was one of the talents he supported. McCarthy has achieved great success with Feig (earning an Oscar nomination for Bridesmaids and starring in the hit The Heat), so it stands to reason to believe that she would be open for another collaboration with the filmmaker, especially one in a legendary series like Ghostbusters.
Of course, most moviegoers are going to focus on the apparent fact that Lawrence and Stone - two of the most popular actresses working today - are saying that they want in on the reboot. A year ago, Stone was offered a part and then passed, but she very easily could have changed her mind since then. That would be all for the better, as her lovably goofy persona and zany sense of humor would fit right in with the franchise's tropes.
Lawrence, too, would be an interesting addition to the cast. She's made a name for herself in major Hollywood tentpoles and on the awards circuit the past few years, but she's also had an openness to appearing in an all-out comedy (as her near Dumb and Dumber To cameo showed). Like Stone, Lawrence has the skill set to do the material justice, showing that she can be a funny screwball in the past (SNL, American Hustle).
Since the phrase "have already said they wanted to be in" is included in the email, this development goes beyond the usual studio wish lists that readers are accustomed to seeing. From the way it sounds, Sony has already been in contact with these actresses to gauge their interest, and apparently they're game. Whether or not any of these stars takes a role remains to be seen, but with Feig at the controls, Sony shouldn't have too much trouble attracting high profile names, since the director has carved out a niche as the go-to guy for female-led comedy.
We'll keep you updated on the Ghostbusters reboot as more information becomes available.
Follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisAgar90.
Source: The Daily Beast