Although there was an incredible amount of hate thrown at Sony’s Ghostbusters reboot from the moment it was first announced, the resulting film did receive a fairly decent reception when it hit cinemas last year. However, a box office gross of just $229 million from a $144 million budget derailed the studio’s plans for a sequel, and subsequently left the franchise in limbo once again.
Appearing on the UK’s Sunday Brunch (via SlashFilm), original Ghostbusters star and series creator Dan Aykroyd – who served as a producer on the reboot – was asked for his thoughts on the film, and while he was full of praise for the cast, he certainly wasn’t too kind to director Paul Feig:
“The girls are great in it. Kate McKinnon, Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig – what a wonderful, wonderful players they are – and Leslie Jones. I was really happy with the movie, but it cost too much. And Sony does not like to lose money. It made a lot of money around the world but just cost too much, making it economically not feasible to do another one. So that’s too bad – the director, he spent too much on it. He didn’t shoot scenes we suggested to him and several scenes that were going to be needed and he said ‘nah, we don’t need them’. Then we tested the movie and they needed them and he had to go back. About $30 to $40 million in reshoots. So he will not be back on the Sony lot any time soon.”
Well, I guess that explains why Sony haven’t been ‘Answering the Call’ when Feig has been expressing his interest in returning to direct a sequel.
UPDATE: Aykroyd has now taken to Facebook to clarify his comments somewhat, posting the following brief message:
“Paul Feig made a good movie and had a superb cast and plenty of money to do it. We just wish he had been more inclusive to the originators. It cost everyone as it is unlikely Kristen, Leslie, Melissa and Kate will ever reprise their roles as Ghostbusters which is sad.”
Ghostbusters sees Paul Feig (Spy) directing a cast that includes Kristin Wiig (Bridesmaids), Melissa McCarthy (Spy), Leslie Jones (Saturday Night Live), Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live), Chris Hemsworth (Avengers: Age of Ultron), Andy Garcia (The Godfather: Part III), Michael K. Williams (Boardwalk Empire), Matt Walsh (Veep), Cecily Strong (Saturday Night Live), Neil Casey (Saturday Night Live) and Charles Dance (Game of Thrones). Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts all cameo.
Originally published June 4, 2017. Updated April 15, 2018.
