Director Paul Feig, who's most well known for bringing us comedy hits like Bridesmaids, The Heat and Spy, brings us a reimagined Ghostbusters this summer. This new version, which is not a continuation (thus a reboot) of the original Ghostbusters timeline, draws on all the familiar trademarks, including the logo and theme, but switches the genders on us with it's main characters. It's hard to be too critical based on this first trailer, but it appears to be very big on nerdy and slapstick, which were some of the most endearing qualities of the original 1984 version. Based on the trailer, I can already see how the 2016 leading ladies line up to the 1984 leading men:
- Dr. Peter Venkman played by Bill Murry is now Jillian Holtzmann played by Kate McKinnon
- Dr. Raymond Stantz played by Dan Aykroyd is Abby Yates played by Melissa McCarthy
- Dr. Egon Spengler played by Harold Ramis is Erin Gilbert played by Kristen Wiig
- Winston Zeddmore played by Ernie Hudson is now Patty Tolan played by Leslie Jones
- Janine Melnitz played by Annie Potts is now just Kevin played by Chris Hemsworth
This is what I've been able to glean from IMDB and judging by the syllables in each character's last name, it seems to line up. Tell me what you think in the comments.
I've also noticed that IMDB reports a few other former actors as part of the cast, including each of the already mentioned and the Gatekeeper herself, Sigourney Weaver, and sadly sans Keymaster Rick Moranis. While this trailer doesn't indicate their involvement in the movie, I wouldn't put it past Feig to use the former cast on-screen in someway to pay tribute to his re-imagination. There have been plenty of rumors swirling on their involvement for some time. Dan Aykroyd even cowrote the new script.
Ghostbusters will be in theaters July 15, 2016. Check out the stylized poster art in the gallery, the power of Patty compels you! You'll get it after you've seen the trailer. I can't wait to see how these ladies deliver the goods, it looks like a lot of fun!
UPDATE: Well that didn't take long. Someone decided to give the new trailer a bit of a trim and music remix to give it more of that classic Ghostbusters feel. Watch it and you be the judge.
