Bill Murraywill appear in the upcoming Ghostbusters reboot. Despite the actors well-known reluctance to participate in a third installment in the Ghostbusters series, Murray has reportedly warmed to the idea of appearing in the Paul Feig-directed, all-female rebootof the comedy, both Variety and The Hollywood Reporter write. Its unclear whether Murray will appear on-screen as Peter Venkman, his Ghostbusters character, or in an unrelated role.
Before Feig was tasked with rebooting the franchise, Murray called Ghostbusters 3 his nightmare during a 2011 visit for the Late Show With David Letterman. I told them if they killed me off in the first reel Id do it, so now theyve figured out a way to kill me, but its crazy talk, Murray said, adding that the poor response to the sequel soured the series for him.
As the 30th anniversary of the 1984 classic comedy approached and talk of a third installment stirred in Hollywood, Murray instead recommended that the ghost-fighting crews proton packs be handed to actresses, and he even listed his dream castas Melissa McCarthy, Emma Stone, Kristen Wiig and Linda Cardellini. McCarthy and Wiig were ultimately cast in the reboot, along with Saturday Night Lives Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones. Chris Hemsworth was also cast at the Ghostbusters receptionist.
Murray isnt the only former Ghostbuster to shoot a cameo for the reboot: In July, Dan Aykroyd filmed a cameo alongside Wiig. Like Murray, its unclear whether Aykroyd will reprise his Ghostbusters character Ray Stantz or if hell appear in a different role entirely. There was talk of a baton-passing scenebetween the original Ghostbusters and the new cast, but that idea was nixed following the death of Harold Ramis.
The Ghostbusters reboot hits theaters July 15, 2016.