Paul Feig says Ghostbusters reboot will be “scarier than the original”

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

While I wouldn't say most people are sold on Paul Feig's planned all-female GHOSTBUSTERS reboot, it does seem like some have warmed up to the idea since the project was first announced. In a new interview with Empire, Feig says he wants the reboot to be more frightening than the original, and if he had it his way, it would be rated-R.

I want ours to be scarier than the original, to be quite honest. (Co-writer) Katie Dippold and I are so focused on wanting to do scary comedy. We don't want to hold back…The reason I do a lot of R-Rated comedies is that you want a movie to feel honest. But the Ghostbusters world doesn't need that level of swearing. We'll have to be PG-13 with this one. I would like to make it R-Rated, but I won't. You want the biggest number of people to watch it and not be put off by it.

Paul Feig also talked about why the film will be a hard reboot.

I have too much respect for the original one [to do a sequel]. There's also the feeling that once the world knows ghosts and has seen them busted on such a large scale, they run the risk of becoming pedestrian. There's something fun about introducing our world, which has never seen ghosts to the phenomenon of ghosts. I love origin stories and to introduce new characters.

Feig went on to explain why he decided to go with an all-female Ghostbusters team for the reboot.

A lot of people accused it of being a gimmick. I guess I can see the cynics' view of it, but for me I just love working with funny women. People said, 'Why don't you do a mix?' I'm just more interested in the idea of lady Ghostbusters. It's the way my brain works…It won't be called Lady Ghostbusters! Certainly not…Ghostbustieres is the way to go.

Although several actresses have met with Paul Feig about possibly starring in the reboot, he says it's too early to start casting for the film.

Right now, honestly, there could be 50 Ghostbusters. I'm just waiting to get our first draft of the script together to go, 'Who makes sense in these roles?' If I put the list in front of me of people that have said they want to do it, talk about a Sophie's Choice. When you do a movie like Ghostbusters, people get very interested.

I still think an all-female team feels kind of gimmicky, and although it could work, a lot is going to depend on who ends up being cast in the reboot. What are your thoughts on Paul Feig's GHOSTBUSTERS plans?