Dan Aykroyd Says Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters “Might Be A Little Better Than The First Two”

Ivan Reitman and Dan Aykroyd recently opened up in an Entertainment Weekly feature about their thoughts on Ghostbusters past and future. The first film began with an idea Aykroyd had after reading an article about quantum physics and parapsychology, so his blessing is a flattering one — and he’s more than provided it, not only by agreeing to a cameo in the film, but also emphasizing his confidence in Paul Feig’s upcoming reboot.

Paul’s kind of the George Cukor of Hollywood: He has a great touch directing female actors and he really knows how to hit the female psyche and sensibility. In a way, his movie might be a little better than the first two because they can do more — CGI might be a little better. But also, you know, there might be more jokes in it. I’m really happy with what I’m seeing.

Reitman and Aykroyd also shared a lot of other historical information about the first Ghostbusters films, and even addressed the disappointment that Ernie Hudson shared about whether his character Winston had been given enough to do in the first film. Reitman explained,

[Winston] got expanded; it ended up to be bigger than it was written. I’ve spoken to him about it since, because I saw it in the press, that somehow we had reduced the part, which is absolutely not true. It was quite the opposite. We kept borrowing from stuff the other guys had and giving it to him, because he was very good, and it balanced the film amongst all the Ghostbusters. We didn’t take a single scene out. In fact, we added a lot to his part. The stuff in the jail and in the mayor’s office — I don’t even recall that it in the initial shooting draft. I told him all that, and then he apologized.

All seems forgiven among the original team of Ghostbusters these days — although Aykroyd admitted he still felt perplexed by Rick Moranis’ decision not to appear in the Ghostbusters reboot.

Maybe Rick misunderstood that they wanted him to play the part that he had played in the first movie. The idea was that he would make a cameo but play a different part — maybe they didn’t make that clear to him. But he didn’t want to do it, and that’s his prerogative to say no. But we all wanted him and all we could do is make the suggestion.

This quote, as well as some follow-up quotes about Bill Murray’s upcoming cameo, affirm that none of the actors will be reprising their original roles. Aykroyd did express his own personal hope that Murray would play Venkman again someday … but for now, it sounds like the Ghostbusters reboot will involve completely new characters for all involved.

(via Vulture, image via Giphy)

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