For those with questions about the all-male reboot of the “Ghostbusters” franchise starring Channing Tatum, here’s who you shouldn’t call: Paul Feig, the director of Sony’s forthcoming all-female update.
Feig’s comedy is preparing to shoot with a star cast including Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig and “SNL” gals Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon, but don’t bother making any cutesy “Battle of the Sexes” comparisons.
“It had nothing to do with me, that was a surprise,” Feig told TheWrap at the Tuesday premiere “Other Space,” his new Yahoo Screen streaming series. “I just have my four funny ladies and that’s all I care about.”
Both projects are set up at Sony Pictures: Feig already has prime real estate on the summer schedule for July 22, 2016, whereas the Tatum project is being developed by original franchise alums Ivan Reitman and Dan Aykroyd with “Captain America: Civial War” directors Joe and Anthony Russo.
While Feig admitted he had “no idea” the Russo Bros version was even in discussion, he’s moving full steam ahead on his take.
The original “Ghostbusters” is the stuff of fandom legend, about a group of misfit parapsychologists who handle ghostly nuisances for Manhattan residences. Their costumes (souped-up flight suits), weapons (called proton packs) and other touches like “ectoplasm,” a slimy green substance, are still referenced in popular culture and inevitably pop up on Americans each Halloween. Feig says he and his team are entrenched in updating that world for a new audience.
“We’re into that heavily right now, we have bunch of great aritsts and designer at work,” he said of new costumes and accoutrement for McCarthy, Wiig and company.