New ‘Ghostbusters’ Film Cameo Revealed
The Ghostbusters reboot/sequel continues to roll on, with both criticism and curiosity aimed in its general direction. However, director Paul Feig has made a surprise announcement this week, one that will surely pique the interest of fans who still love the 1984 classic.
Before it was leaked to the internet, Paul Feig decided to share the latest news on his Twitter feed, what with the paparazzi and the internet ready to spoil, leak, and announce any minor change or decision made on set. This cameo isn’t the first to be announced, but it might be one of the most shocking.
If you don’t want to know the latest cameo, please look away now, spoilers are contained within.
Paul Feig announced the following on his Twitter feed.
Gang, trying to keep surprises but this is about to leak, so I'll tell you myself: the awesome Sigourney Weaver is going to be in our movie!
— Paul Feig (@paulfeig) September 25, 2015
That’s right, Sigourney Weaver is set to make a cameo in the new Ghostbusters movie. Weaver, who was a star on the rise when the original film was released, is set to appear in an unspecified role. Weaver was the heart of the original movie, a normal bystander caught up in a demonic plot of world destruction by Zuul, who eventually possesses her in order to open the gateway to another dimension. She was also the love interest for Peter Venkman, a relationship that continued into its lesser sequel in 1989. Of all the original actors involved, she is probably still the most prolific. Only recently, she signed on for Alien 5, as confirmed by Den of Geek, a reboot of the franchise that made Weaver a household name.
Joining the former Dana Barrett from the 1984 classic are Bill Murray (Peter Venkman), Dan Aykroyd (Ray Stanz), Ernie Hudson (Winston Zeddemore), and Annie Potts (Janine Melnitz). The only other remaining, surviving cast member is Rick Moranis, who played Dana’s hapless neighbour, Louis Tully. Whether he signs on remains to be seen. However, it’s a sight better than a year ago, when Murray, amongst others, vehemently denied the chance to star in a potential Ghostbusters sequel. In one script revision, his character was even killed off.
A Ghostbusters sequel has been in development hell for years. To fill the gap, Ghostbusters: The Video Game was released by Atari in 2009 and featured the voices and likenesses of each of the Ghostbusters from the original. The plot included a new, rookie Ghostbuster, the return of several famous characters, and the ability to bust, trap, and pursue ghosts. It was a huge hit with fans, selling over a million copies. Aykroyd even confirmed the following about the game.
“This is essentially the third movie.”
Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, the original writers for the first movie, even doctored the game script on a project that remains faithful to the franchise. Notable cameos from William Atherton and Max von Sydow as Vigo the Carpathian essentially offered the fans a third sequel. However, it was limited to video gamers — movie fans have been clamoring for a true sequel for years. In 2016, they will finally get their wish.
The decision to reboot the franchise was a controversial one, but it’s clear the franchise needed to move forward and modernize itself for a new generation. Fans were sceptical, but with the cameos confirmed, it’s clear the original cast members feel Paul Feig is doing justice to a film they all deem personal and special to them. In a way, their participation is their blessing.
Co-starring Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones, Ghostbusters will open in the UK and U.S. on July 15, 2016.
[Images – Atari and Columbia Pictures]
