7 Reasons Why The Ghostbusters Reboot Is Going To Be Awesome

Ever since Sony announced that the classic 1980s franchise Ghostbusters was set to be rebooted with female leads, the Internet has varied between a state of euphoric optimism and dire predictions that this heralds the destruction of the world (presumably by a giant marshmallow man). Questions have arisen about how the reboot will go, whether it is too little too late for the franchise, and whether women are capable of bustin’ ghosts. Well, here’s your answer to some of those concerns, as we explore seven very good reasons why the Ghostbusters reboot is going to be awesome. The Four New Ghostbusters Let’s get this out of the way right now: it’s awfully hard to argue against the cast for the new Ghostbusters. Although the stars have their naysayers, there’s no doubt that Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones have comedic track records at least as good as the male leads of the original film. Wiig and McCarthy have already proved their comedic prowess in film and TV, and while Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones are lesser known, both are recent SNL veterans, coming out of the very tradition that spawned the 1984 Ghostbusters. These are women who understand comedy and improvisation, accustomed to working in a team of comedians. They’re also a step away from the original film, not attempting to reprise the same roles with a gender switch, but creating characters in their own right. While it’s understandable that some fans might be nervous about the new direction, the cast alone should at least get you into a theater seat. This Means There Won’t Be Another Bad Ghostbusters Sequel I think even the most diehard Ghostbusters fans can admit that Ghostbusters II was hardly a worthy sequel. I think we can also admit that until this reboot was announced, the fan approach to Ghostbusters III was cautiously pessimistic at best. Dan Aykroyd has been talking about a third film for years, floating increasingly weird ideas (including making Venkman into a ghost) that have not inspired confidence. So rather than a tired attempt to capture one last fleeting moment of busting glory, we will instead get a brand new idea, with new characters, writers, and director. With fresh faces and fresh slime coming into the mix, there’s hope that this reboot will not be another bad Ghostbusters sequel. And if it is, guess what? It won’t tarnish the original film, because it’s outside of the original’s purview. Win/win. Chris Hemsworth The original team had Annie Potts as secretary Janine, but this new one has Chris Hemsworth as secretary Kevin. So in addition to four new badass ladies, we get to see Hemsworth flexing his comedic muscles outside of the Marvel universe. It’s a change-up for the franchise, but very much in keeping with the gender-switching attitude of the new outing. And who’s complaining? Fanboys and girls can be happy that Hemsworth will leave his mark on yet another franchise and I think I can speak for many female viewers when I say that anything with Chris Hemsworth is worthy of my attention. Dang. Paul Feig When discussion of a Ghostbusters III began flying around yet again, there was some question about who would direct it. Of course, many of us hardcore fans wanted Ivan Reitman, who did the first two films, and for awhile it looked like he would take on the challenge. But with the new reboot came a new director, one peculiarly suited to fill Reitman’s shoes with this cast. Paul Feig already has some excellent female-centric comedies under his belt, including working with McCarthy and Wiig in Bridesmaids, and with McCarthy again in the criminally underrated The Heat. The most attractive thing about Feig directing a new Ghostbusters? He’s not afraid to let very funny women do their thing without too much interference, and he respects his characters, regardless of gender. Bill Murray Thinks It Will Be Awesome For years, Bill Murray was the major holdout when it came to another Ghostbusters. He stated numerous times that he wasn’t going to do it, that he would not be involved with it, and that he didn’t want to participate in it. For years we talked about what kind of a Ghostbusters film it would be without Peter Venkman. Now, Murray seems positive about this new film, so much so that rumors circulate about him putting in a cameo. He even suggested the idea of a female-centric reboot long before the film was announced. So if Bill Murray, the man who wanted nothing to do with Ghostbusters ever again, thinks it’s going to be an awesome film, then yeah, I’ll take that. Everyone From the First Film Thinks It Will Be Awesome OK, maybe not everyone…but mostly everyone. Dan Aykroyd, who has been clamoring for a new Ghostbusters for years – even when most viewers hoped and prayed that he wouldn’t – has come out in support, saying that he thinks it will a great new step for the franchise. Bill Murray, as we’ve seen, is all about this reboot, and Ivan Reitman, the original director of the franchise, is a vocal supporter. The lone holdout is Ernie Hudson, who just doesn’t want to see girls playing with neutron packs. But he’s alone on this one, and rightfully so. Fanboy Tears One of the main reasons why I think (and hope) that this new Ghostbusters will be awesome is because so many hysterical man-children are against it. Hearing about how girls can’t be Ghostbusters, complaints about Melissa McCarthy’s weight, bad sexist jokes about “busts,” and moaning about how the women are not the perfect sex-pots that some fanboys want…all of this simply speaks to the fact that the new Ghostbusters is not being directed at the man-child multitude. Are there legitimate concerns about this new direction? Definitely, and many real fans have raised those concerns. But when your main objection to the new franchise has to do with the fact that women are replacing men…well, I look forward to bathing in those sweet sweet misogynist tears.