There’s been no shortage of debate and speculation regarding the upcoming reboot of the Ghostbusters franchise, but this week we received a few more details about the context for what’s going to turn director Paul Feig’s team of paranormal investigators into the next generation of ghost-hunting heroes.
Along with a new photo featuring the quartet of actresses starring in the film, the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly also featured a brief synopsis of the film that hints at a common theme among the sinister spectres that will appear in the reboot.
“Dead criminals from all eras of New York’s underbelly past have returned to roost among the living in Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters reboot,” reads EW’s synopsis of the film that accompanied a new, official image released by the studio. “Pilgrims, old-timey sailors, Revolutionary War spirits, and even a couple of zoot-suited gangsters are ready to take on four formidable female busters looking to rid the city of its phantasmic filth.”
As seen in the photo, the rebooted Ghostbusters features a cast of paranormal investigators played by Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Melissa McCarthy, and Leslie Jones. In a bit of additional gender-flipping, Thor actor Chris Hemsworth will play the team’s receptionist in the remake — a role played by Annie Potts in the original films.
The cast of Ghostbusters will also include Andy Garcia as the Mayor of New York City, Neil Casey as the film’s unnamed villain, Michael K. Williams as a character named “Hawkins,” Matt Walsh as a character named “Rourke,” and NY1 news anchor Pat Kiernan playing — no surprise here — a New York City news anchor.
Veteran Ghostbusters cast members Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, and Ernie Hudson are all expected to have roles in the film, although they won’t be playing their original characters.
Feig co-wrote the script for the film with his collaborator on The Heat, Katie Dippold. Ghostbusters is scheduled to hit theaters July 15, 2016.
