After years of publicly refusing to feature in a GHOSTBUSTERS 3 and stringing Aykroyd and Ramis along until the latter died, Bill Murray agreed to cameo in this Feig-directed reboot, albeit not as Peter Venkman, but as a new character, a cynical Walter Peck type out to expose the four leads as frauds. Which brings about the question: por que?
While talking with Vulture, the Murricane had this to say when asked about his participation:
“You know, they were incredibly nice to ask me, and I really enjoyed being there. They have such a jolly group, and they are going to have great success with this project. I didn’t want to overshadow [them] or anything, and I feel really good about it.
That’s true, I wasn’t [interested]. I like those girls a lot,” he said. “I mean, I really do. They are tough to say no to. And Paul is a real nice fellow.
I thought about it for a very long time. Like, many, many months. No, that’s not right. I was seriously thinking about this for years, really … It kept eating at me, and I really respect those girls. And then I started to feel like if I didn’t do this movie, maybe somebody would write a bad review or something, thinking there was some sort of disapproval [on my part].”
They also mention that he referred to Melissa McCarthy, his ST. VINCENT co-star, as “a great hope,” presumably for comedy.
My optimistic side says that he was energized by this script, this cast, and this role in a way that the prospect of GB 3 never did, but my cynical side suspects that Murray was just enticed by the NEWness of it all. He’s publicly denounced GHOSTBUSTERS II, and had fallen out with Ramis during the shooting of GROUNDHOG DAY, so maybe it was just the idea of going through the motions again that turned him off. Plus, Wiig, McCarthy, Leslie Jones, and Kate McKinnon are significantly hotter (in the popularity sense) than he and the old crew by the time they wanted to get going with a second sequel. And if you’ve ever heard about how he was recruited for his role in the disastrously received ALOHA, you know that having a good relationship with one of the lead actresses is nearly all the motivation Murray needs to get on a plane and appear in a movie.
Still, I can’t say that having Murray and Aykroyd in this doesn’t perk me up just a little bit. Seeing them onscreen, even if just for a few moments, could be enough to get that nostalgia fire burning as we remember the magic and impact of that undeniably enduring original. Just get Ernie Hudson in there too, for godssake. He didn’t even get above-the-title credit in GB II (though Moranis did), so the least they could do is acknowledge that he’s one of the three surviving originals.
And put in a call to Moranis too, while you’re at it. Can’t hurt.
GHOSTBUSTERS are ready to believe you on July 15th, 2016.
