Paul Feig's new Ghostbusters movie has amassed quite the ensemble of familiar faces. Among those returning from the 1984 and 1989 originals: Ernie Hudson's Winston Zeddemore, Sigourney Weaver's Dana Barrett, Dan Aykroyd's Ray Stantz and, most surprisingly, everyone's favourite Bill Murray as the perennially deadpan Pete Venkman.
They'll be making cameo appearances alongside the all-new Ghostbusters crew comprised of Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones. But one name is conspicuously absent from the above list: Rick Moranis, whose role as the loveably dweeby Ricky Tully was one of the highlights of the first two movies. It turns out that Moranis turned down Feig's offer to appear. So what gives?
"I hope it's terrific. But it just makes no sense to me," he tells The Hollywood Reporter. "Why would I do just one day of shooting on something I did 30 years ago?"
A fair point perhaps, but it's a shame not to have Moranis on-board completing the original line-up. We first saw him in 1984 pining after Weaver's character, only to be possessed by the spirit of the dreaded Gozer. His luck improved somewhat in the second movie as he stepped up to the plate and donned a Ghostbusters uniform to help combat the supernatural menace.
Moranis, who was something of an eighties movie staple with his roles in Little Shop of Horrors, Spaceballs and Honey I Shrunk the Kids, says that he remains incredibly choosy over his film projects, devoting his attention to his children.
"Occasionally, they get it right or else they wouldn't attempt to do these things," he explains. "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."
Still, if we're not going to see a McCarthy/Moranis team-up, we can at least satisfy ourselves with this classic scene from the first movie. OK, who brought the dog?
Ghostbusters is due for release on 15th July 2016.
