After years of saying no to a “Ghostbusters” return, Bill Murray finally caved and will appear in next year’s reboot — thanks to Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy and director Paul Feig.
After the original’s successful sequel in 1989, Murray had been openly hesitant to star in a third installment. Appearing on CBS’ “Late Show” in 2011, Murray called the idea of appearing in a new “Ghostbusters” film “crazy talk.”
That’s why people were surprised to see his name on the cast list of Feig’s “Ghostbusters” film starring Wiig, McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones, which is set to hit theaters on July 15, 2016.
At last weekend’s screening of his new film, “Rock the Kasbah,” Murray told Vulture about how the role came about and who was responsible for coaxing him back into it.
“You know, they were incredibly nice to ask me, and I really enjoyed being there,” Murray said. “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.”
Although he initially wasn’t interested in the part, Wiig and McCarthy changed his mind.
“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.”
Yet, the decision came after years and years of deliberation, Murray told Vulture.
“I thought about it for a very long time,” he said. “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].”
While that is all he had to say about his “Ghostbusters” revival, he did talk about a project he might have coming with Jennifer Lawrence. During San Diego Comic-Con, the two ran into each other, at which time she told Vulture that they might be working together in the future.
“That would be great,” said Murray. “I really like her. I mean, I only know her a little bit, but I’d love to work with her.”