Caffeinated Clint
For those who haven’t been keeping up… there’s a bit of a fiery social-slag going on between fans of the original “Ghostbusters” film and devotees of the recent reboot; it’s gotten so heated, those behind the movies in question have had to respond publicly to help extinguish the flames.
Paul Feig, director of the moderately-successful 2016 “Ghostbusters” reboot, has come to the defense of fellow filmmaker Jason Reitman, the captain of the next film in the franchise, after some comments said by the latter on a podcast this week got the twittersphere in a tizzy.
It was recently announced that Reitman, son of original “Ghostbusters” director Ivan Reitman, would direct a sequel to his father’s ’80s comedies – and with the male leads of the 1984 and 1989 films returning as opposed to the female ensemble that featured in Feig’s film.
All was going swimmingly until Reitman mentioned on Bill Burr’s Monday Morning podcast that the film will ignore the 2016 film and instead be a “love letter” to ‘Ghostbusters’. Some, naturally, took this as a knock to the millions that adored the Kristen Wiig-Melissa McCarthy starring reboot from Feig.
“I’m not making the ‘Juno’ of ‘Ghostbusters’ movies. This is going to be a love letter to ‘Ghostbusters’”, said Reitman, who directed “Juno” and “Tully”. “I love this franchise. I grew up watching it. I consider myself the first ‘Ghostbusters’ fan. I was like seven years old when that movie came out and I love it. I want to make a movie for my fellow ‘Ghostbusters’ fans.”
Since the interview quotes were published, some have accused Reitman of being outright rude and insulting to Feig’s movie. In a tweet, the director says his quotes were misunderstood : “Wo, that came out wrong. I have nothing but admiration for Paul and Leslie and Kate and Melissa and Kristen and the bravery with which they made Ghostbusters 2016. They expanded the universe and made an amazing movie.”
Surprisingly, if only because he’s not getting to do a sequel to his film but instead has to had the reigns to the series back to the Reitman’s, Paul Feig has come out defending Reitman.
“Jason was a supporter of mine at a time when I couldn’t get movies made. He has always been a true gentleman to me and a supporter of Ghostbusters: Answer the Call. I can’t wait to see his take on the Ghostbusters universe. Big love and respect to you, Jason. Your fan, Paul.”
The new “Ghostbusters”, which will reportedly feature a group of young characters taking over the ‘Ghostbusting’ from their counterparts (with Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray and Ernie Hudson all rumored to be returning), is due in theaters next summer.
