Even though Paul Feig's Ghostbusters reboot is fronted by an all-female team comprised of Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones, we know that Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, and Annie Potts will also be showing up in some capacity. While that sounds like the old ghostbustin' gang will be firing up their proton packs alongside the new kids on the block, there's one mild-mannered accountant left out in the hall while the party's going on: Rick Moranis' Louis Tully.
It's not for lack of trying on the part of the reboot's filmmakers. Moranis, now 62, was offered a walk-on role that's at least, in some part, similar to those of his Ghostbusters co-stars. He turned it down. The resulting fan outcry caused Moranis to come out of non-retirement and grant an interview with THR. His comments on the reboot follow below:
"I wish them well. I hope it's terrific. But it just makes no sense to me. Why would I do just one day of shooting on something I did 30 years ago?"
Assuming that studios still pay actors to act, money would be one reason to do it. Nostalgia is another one, but perhaps he's not as caught up in the current wave of retrospection that seems to be sweeping the nation. Since money's clearly not Moranis' driving motivation behind which roles he takes, and nostalgia seemingly has no effect on him, his fans might wonder just what he's been up to since starring in 80s and 90s comedies.
Well, for one thing, he's been taking care of his kids on his own since 1991 when his wife, Ann, passed away from breast cancer. He did take on the rare voice role in the years since 1997's Honey We Shrunk Ourselves, but those performances are a far cry from what his career had been up until that point. The kids are grown now, and with the nest empty, Moranis seems to be interested in taking on roles again. Just not a walk-on part in a Ghostbusters reboot, it seems:
"I took a break, which turned into a longer break. But I'm interested in anything that I would find interesting. I still get the occasional query about a film or television role and as soon as one comes along that piques my interest, I'll probably do it. [But Ghostbusters] didn't appeal to me."
In this rare interview, Moranis also reflected on his Hollywood life before the death of his wife:
"I was working with really interesting people, wonderful people. I went from that to being at home with a couple of little kids, which is a very different lifestyle. But it was important to me. I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever. My life is wonderful."
Personally, I think stepping back into the sensible shoes of Louis Tully would be a great way for Moranis to make a statement that tells audiences and filmmakers that he's back, but who am I to judge. I'm just happy he's considering taking on more roles at all. So while we wait to see just what projects Moranis will take on next, be sure to check out the rest of his interview with THR, and take some time out of your schedule to enjoy his work in such films as: Strange Brew; Ghostbusters (and its sequel); Spaceballs; Little Shop of Horrors; Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (and its sequels), Little Giants, Parenthood, The Flintstones, and My Blue Heaven.
