In a shocking piece of news, Melissa McCarthy is officially in early talks to star in the female-led Ghostbusters reboot. I kid, as many expected McCarthy to play some sort of role in the film given her relationship with director Paul Feig, who previously helmed the actress in Bridesmaids, The Heat, and the upcoming Spy. It also doesn’t hurt that she’s incredibly funny. But McCarthy’s involvement in the Ghostbusters reboot isn’t a certainty just yet, as the actress has some potential scheduling hurdles that could ultimately prevent her from taking on the role. More after the jump, including updates on the status of Emma Stone, Jennifer Lawrence, Jillian Bell, and Cecily Strong with regards to their chances of signing on.
Per THR, talks are underway for McCarthy to take on the starring role in Feig’s Ghostbusters reboot, which from the get-go has been planned as an all new take on the material with a female-driven cast. This is not a sequel or cross between a sequel and a reboot, it’s a hard reboot starting over from scratch with the intention of putting a fresh spin on the property.
McCarthy is interested in signing on, especially since she and Feig have developed a very close working relationship, but there are a number of scheduling issues that need to be worked out. She’s still contracted to her CBS series Mike & Molly, which would likely start production back up in late August, and she recently agreed to star in Michelle Darnell, which her husband Ben Falcone is directing. Talks are underway to start production on Michelle Darnell in mid-March, which would allow McCarthy to then segue into Ghostbusters in June. But there’s no guarantee the schedule will work out, and the actress is due for some creative meetings with Feig and Sony before signing on the dotted line. So yes, there’s interest in both sides, but McCarthy’s involvement isn't a foregone conclusion just yet.
There have been a number of other actresses rumored for roles in this Ghostbusters reboot, but THR notes that neither Jennifer Lawrence nor Rebel Wilson are considered contenders at this stage. Emma Stone is apparently available this summer after passing on J.C. Chandor’s Deepwater Horizon (the script isn’t finished yet), but the focus right now is signing McCarthy, who is apparently seen as “the lynchpin”.
With regards to supporting roles, THR adds that Workaholics actress and 22 Jump Street standout Jillian Bell is due to meet with Feig, which is welcome news to me since I've championing her name for the film since Day One. SNL cast member Cecily Strong is also set to meet with Feig about a role in the film.
As Feig completes post-production on the action comedy Spy, it appears that he’s getting serious about the Ghostbusters reboot. As a fan of McCarthy I’m all for her casting, and I’d seriously be thrilled to see Bell sign on as well. I imagine we’ll hear much more in terms of casting news in the coming months.
