Since Paul Feig was making an active effort to get all the surviving major cast members from the original into his GHOSTBUSTERS remake, people obviously were speculating on whether he could be the guy to finally get Rick Moranis to appear, which would be his first film appearance in 18 years.
But Moranis, who left acting after '97s HONEY I SHRUNK OURSELVES both to raise his two sons and because he wasn’t being afforded the creative freedom he received on films like GHOSTBUSTERS and SPACEBALLS, shot them down.
"I wish them well. I hope it's terrific. But it just makes no sense to me. Why would I do just one day of shooting on something I did 30 years ago? …But I'm interested in anything that I would find interesting. I still get the occasional query about a film or television role, and as soon as one comes along that piques my interest, I'll probably do it. [But GHOSTBUSTERS] didn't appeal to me…It's hard to come up with original material. Occasionally, they get it right or else they wouldn't attempt to do these things. I'm surprised that Disney hasn't done HONEY I SHRUNK THE GRANDKIDS. But I'm happy with the things I said yes to, and I'm very happy with the many things I've said no to. Yes, I am picky, and I'll continue to be picky. Picky has worked for me.”
Hear that everyone? He’s willing to work again, provided your script/project is appealing enough. Just not for a nostalgia-based one-day cameo in a reboot of two film he merely played a supporting part in.
The notion of Moranis doing, well, anything in front of a camera again is almost as exciting as knowing he won’t be in GHOSTBUSTERS is disappointing. While it’ll be cool to see Murray, Weaver, Aykroyd, Hudson, and Potts pop up in Feig's film (what about Atherton?), there is no comparison for the wow factor if Moranis had traipsed along the screen, whether in the Tully get-up or not. He’s one of those talents that a lot of folks from certain generations miss dearly (see below), and a cameo from him would actually have the eye-opening shock value that so many "special appearances" throughout the years have tried for and failed.
But if you’re wondering if Moranis would be interested in your short film/TV show/indie project/studio film, track him down and send him your script! If he’s telling the truth, he might actually say yes! And I MISS MORANIS!!
GHOSTBUSTERS will get by without Louis Tully on July 15th, 2016.
