The Ghostbusters Are Back, They’re Women, and We’re Happy

Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Melissa McCarthy, and Leslie Jones ain’t afraid of nothing.

Casting rumors have been swirling around Ghostbusters III like a psychic disturbance triggered by ectoplasm and negative emotions since Paul Feig, director of Bridesmaids, announced his plans to convert another Manhattan fire station. Those rumors were given corporeal form today as  announced the leads of the new film: Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Melissa McCarthy, and Leslie Jones. Basically, a movie franchise popularized by Saturday Night Live cast members will be re-popularized by Saturday Night Live cast members. Can’t fault the logic.

While the casting of Wiig and McCarthy, veterans of Feig films, comes as no surprise, McKinnon and Jones have to be feeling pretty good right now. McKinnon is currently best known for her unbelievable Justin Bieber impersonation and Jones was only elevated from writer to featured SNL player this season. Both women have distinctive deliveries – McKinnon seems to speak entirely in asides while Jones does the opposite – which will help given that the Ghostbusters franchise was always dialogue driven. The only special effect from the originals that really ages well is Bill Murray’s non-stop patter.

No word yet on whether previous busters of ghosts Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray will show up in the film, but it’s clear that the women are taking the wheel of that suped up 1959 Cadillac. The race is on to update IMDB and put out a trailer worthy of the fanboys.