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Dan Ackroyd Lets Loose On Paul Feig’s ‘Ghostbusters’

Paul Feig may not have been afraid of no ghost but, when it comes to producers, he may want to steer clear from Dan Ackroyd.

Ackroyd, who co-wrote and starred in the 1984 masterpiece, served as an executive producer on the 2016 reboot that was deemed a flat out failure by critics, fans, and casual movie-goers alike. Many of the original cast and crew have remained quiet over the last year about saying anything damning of the remake, err, reboot. That time, however, has finally arrived. During an appearance yesterday on Sunday Brunch on Britain’s Channel 4, Dan Ackroyd was asked about how he felt on the 2016 reboot. Suffice to say, he didn’t mince his words without mentioning Feig by name.

“The director, he spent too much on it and he didn’t shoot scenes we suggested to him. Several scenes that were going to be needed, he said, ‘No, we don’t need them.’ And then we tested the movie and they needed them, and he had to go back — about $30 to $40 million in reshoots.”

But Ackroyd’s firm belief may hold true at the end of the day.

“…he will not be back on the Sony lot anytime soon.”

Ackroyd does have a point to be mad. Both he and Ivan Reitman, director of the 1984 and 1989 movies, had kept a tight grip on the property rights for years and worked tirelessly to craft a third movie with the original cast. When Harold Ramis passed away, however, Sony brought in Paul Feig to take over and fashioned the sequel into a full-on reboot. The 1984 original ended with a $295 million gross – but $629 million when adjusted for inflation. Feig’s remake managed just $229 million and was a blight on Sony’s ledger and fandom’s memories. I would be a little ticked off too if I, as creator of a franchise and agreeing to executive produce a reboot, had someone dismiss my ideas as bunk – only to film the reshoots anyway.

Besides, we already had a true third movie. And hey, if you have a X-Box One, you can even play it too. Ghostbusters: The Video Game on the X-Box 360, spearheaded by Ramis and Ackroyd, is officially backwards compatible and available to purchase. Do yourselves a favor. Since Reitman and Ackroyd are taking their sweet time with the next steps in the franchise (read – not letting Feig anywhere near the franchise again), go indulge in that game and enjoy a more fulfilling trip down memory lane. (Oh, and great closure to create what could have been an excellent trilogy.)

Dan Ackroyd Lets Loose On Paul Feig's 'Ghostbusters'
Atari/Terminal Reality

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