As has been long-rumored, Melissa McCarthy has entered talks to re-team with Bridesmaids and The Heat director Paul Feig for his upcoming female-driven Ghostbusters reboot. The Hollywood Reporter has the news, although their article makes it clear that McCarthy’s involvement is far from a done deal due to her upcoming commitments to both “Mike & Molly” and the Universal Pictures comedy Michelle Darnell. If all goes according to plan, however, Ghostbusters will begin shooting this June.
A remake of director Ivan Reitman’s 1984 comedy classic, Feig’s take on the property is said to be targeting a scarier tone that will not maintain any continuity with the original film or its 1989 sequel (or the surprisingly continuity-heavy animated series “The Real Ghostbusters,” for that matter).
Back in September, original Ghostbusters star Bill Murray revealed his own “fan cast” for a female-driven franchise reboot, which included McCarthy (his St. Vincent co-star) in addition to Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty), Linda Cardinelli (“Freaks and Geeks,” “Mad Men”) and Emma Stone (The Help, The Amazing Spider-Man). Since then, Pitch Perfect star Rebel Wilson has revealed that she has met for a part, although today’s update suggest that Wilson is no longer in contention for a role.
McCarthy, who also recently headlined Tammy, is set to appear in Feig’s next, Spy, opposite Jason Statham, Rose Byrne, Jude Law, Nia Long, Bobby Cannavale, Morena Baccarin, Allison Janney, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Miranda Hart. The 20th Century Fox comedy hits theaters May 22.
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