Since sci-fi hit The X-Files catapulted Gillian Anderson to a life-changing level of fame, she has remained dedicated to the small screen. As the level-headed Scully in The X-Files, The Fall‘s reserved and stoic Stella Gibson and her recent turn as Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier in Hannibal, there’s been a similar vibe to her characters. That’s not to say she’s at her best when playing to type – far from it – but simply that there’s a commonality in her choices. But, it seems Anderson is up for a change of tone, as we’ve learned today that the actress would quite like to tickle your ribs for a role in the upcoming spook reboot, Ghostbusters 3.
The long-gestating sequel to the 80s franchise has finally pushed forward in the last week. We now know that the third instalment will not be a continuation of the original storyline. Instead the plan is to reinvent the series by featuring an all-female line up of Ghostbusters. If that prospect alone isn’t enough to incite total mayhem in your fanboy heart, then get a load of this: Bridesmaids director Paul Feig will be at the helm, with The Heat‘s Katie Dippold joining him on scripting duties. Granted, we’ve known this since last week, but we’re still in the dark about who’ll be stepping into the overalls. While there’s been considerable chatter about who’d be perfect for the role, with Bill Murray even throwing in his two cents, nothing’s confirmed.
During Anderson’s recent Reddit AMA, however, one fan raised the possibility of her involvement in the project, to which the actress responded rather enthusiastically:
“OH MY GOD, I just looked it up online. Paul Feig, cast me now! Start a Twitter petition! I’m free!!!!! I’m free I’m free and I’m funny, goddamnit! MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!”
The idea of Anderson stepping into the shoes previously worn by Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson is brilliant. She’s seldom associated with comedy, which makes her a prime candidate to surprise the heck out of doubters. Sadly, the forthcoming sequel has been at the receiving end of much disdain. In particular, this last week we heard that Hudson (Winston Zeddemore) was against Feig’s reboot, telling The Telegraph that casting women is “a bad idea.” Nevertheless, that’s not gonna stop the project from moving forward – and we are most excited about it.
If Anderson doesn’t wangle a part in Ghostbusters 3, there’s a chance we’ll see her reprising her X-Files role for the show’s third big screen venture. While talk on that topic has also been in the pipeline for an age, she offered a miniscule hint on how that film is progressing:
“Uh….uh… uh… Sorta kinda. Keep your ears to the ground.”
It’s not exactly the dead-cert confirmation we were hoping for, but still, it means we could be in for an announcement in the near future. I’d prefer to see her branch out into comedy with a part in Ghostbusters 3, but that’s just my opinion – what do you think?
