Even though director Ivan Reitman thinks that an all-female cast of the Ghostbusters reboot is a really good idea, he is still not directing the new movie.
He originally said yes but after the death of original cast member Harold Ramis last year, Reitman changed his mind.
"Between Billy Murray's reluctance in doing another one - and especially when I returned from Harold Ramis's funeral - I realised that actually, I may be able to talk Bill into doing another one, but I certainly can't talk Harold into it," he explained to Chris Tilly of IGN Asia. "But I felt it needed fresh eyes as a director and somebody with new ideas."
Reitman, who directed the movie twice before, clarified that he loves the franchise, which made him decide to become one of the producers of the remake in the hope of contributing to the success of the upcoming film.
Reitman has handed over the helm to Paul Feig, creator of Freaks and Geeks and director of Bridesmaids and The Heat, who will give fresh air to the all-female movie. Reitman has nothing but confidence that Feig will give justice to the Ghostbusters reboot.
"He's a really terrific director of comedy. He's done particularly well with actors who are female and his idea of doing this where the Ghostbusters are women was actually a terrific way to look at this afresh and not say 'Oh well that person's not as good as Bill' and 'That person's not as good as Danny,'" Reitman said.
The Ghostbusters reboot will star Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon and will hit screens on July 22, 2016.
Unlike Reitman, original Ghostbuster Ernie Hudson doesn't think that an all-female cast is a good decision.
"I heard it was going to be a total reboot, and that it would have nothing to do with the other two movies," he said. "If it has nothing to do with the other two movies, and it's all female, then why are you calling it Ghostbusters? I love females. I hope that if they go that way at least they'll be funny."
