Why Kristen Wiig Finally Agreed To Do Ghostbusters

Ever since Bridesmaids, Kristen Wiig has been one of Hollywood’s go-to women when it comes to comedy. While she doesn't shy away from them, she doesn’t feel obligated to only do the same sorts of films over and over again. For that reason, you might think the decision to get involved in the new Ghostbusters film was a major cost/benefit analysis. As it turns out, it doesn’t take that much. Just a really good script.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly the actress, currently in Ridley Scott’s The Martian, tells the "boring" (her words) story about how she had to do the new Ghostbusters because the script was so good.

I read the script, and [Paul Feig] and Katie Dippold just wrote a really smart, funny story. I just thought all the characters were great. The nods to the first two [movies] are so subtle and respectful and funny. I really fell in love with the script.

If Kristen Wiig thinks the script is great, that’s a pretty good endorsement. Unfortunately, that’s about all we have as far as details about the story itself. Feig has previously said he’s working to make the film as scary as possible, as well as funny. The original film had its moments, though we’re not sure many people would call it scary. Feig has said that The Walking Dead has been a major influence on the new film. This certainly reinforces the "scary" aspect of the film and also potentially adds a level of jeopardy that the original film never had. We have no idea how all this is going to work out, but it certainly has us intrigued. We can only imagine how it looked to those reading the script for the first time.

While the all-female cast of the new film has led to some negative reaction from the parts of the internet that live under bridges, fans of comedy really have to be excited by it. The film reunites Kristen Wiig with Bridesmaids director Paul Feig and co-star Melissa McCarthy. Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon round out the ensemble cast. This is a truly funny group of humans who have the potential to turn in a great chapter in the Ghostbusters series. The original film was very influential on a lot of young moviegoers, so the fact that this film follows those, and pays them reverence while still being funny, will hopefully help settle some nerves. If that doesn’t do it, hopefully, the cameos will. Former cast members Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson and Sigourney Weaver are reportedly both in for appearances in the movie.

The new Ghostbusters is currently set for a July 2016 release.

Dirk Libbey
Content Producer/Theme Park Beat

CinemaBlend’s resident theme park junkie and amateur Disney historian, Dirk began writing for CinemaBlend as a freelancer in 2015 before joining the site full-time in 2018. He has previously held positions as a Staff Writer and Games Editor, but has more recently transformed his true passion into his job as the head of the site's Theme Park section. He has previously done freelance work for various gaming and technology sites. Prior to starting his second career as a writer he worked for 12 years in sales for various companies within the consumer electronics industry. He has a degree in political science from the University of California, Davis.  Is an armchair Imagineer, Epcot Stan, Future Club 33 Member.