Paul Rudd is in talks to join the cast of Sony’s next entry in the “Ghostbusters” franchise directed by Jason Reitman, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.
The “Ant-Man” star will play the role of a teacher in a small town in the film, joining a cast that already includes Finn Wolfhard and McKenna Grace. Carrie Coon is also in talks to join the film, and Sigourney Weaver has teased that she too will be returning to the franchise.
“I’ve been wanting to work with Paul Rudd since my short film opened for ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ at Sundance. Thrilled he’ll be joining this new chapter in the original ‘Ghostbusters’ universe,” director Reitman said in a statement.
“Ghostbusters 2020” will not connect with Paul Feig’s female-fronted reboot of “Ghostbusters” and is considered a new chapter in the “Ghostbusters” universe, with the story centered on a single mom and her children, with Coon in talks to play the mom, and Wolfhard and Grace playing the kids.
Reitman co-wrote the screenplay with Gil Kenan and will direct, and Reitman’s father, the director of the original “Ghostbusters” Ivan Reitman, will produce.
“Ghostbusters 2020” goes into production this summer and is slated for releases in the summer of 2020.
Rudd most recently starred in “Avengers: Endgame” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp” prior to that. He’s currently filming the Netflix limited series “Living With Yourself,” due out this fall. He’s represented by Lighthouse Management & Media, UTA and Jackoway Tyerman.
The news of Rudd’s casting was first reported by Variety.