As a movie buff and a connoisseur of Hollywood tales, I must say that these stories about the iconic figures who turned down roles in “Ghostbusters” are simply mind-blowing! It’s fascinating to think about how the course of cinema history might have been different if Eddie Murphy had accepted Dan Aykroyd’s offer, or if Michael Keaton had decided to suit up as either Venkman or Egon Spengler.
For four decades now, it’s been 40 years since the Ghostbusters graced our cinema screens. The call for their assistance came from Manhattan in 1984 when the city was struggling to manage an unruly ghost infestation. They arrived in their distinctive Ectomobile and saved us with proton packs, while their iconic theme song echoed in the background. Ghostbusters is a humorous take on the supernatural, created by Dan Aykroyd, a comedy legend who was inspired by his family’s own fascination with the paranormal from SNL.
In 1984, the initial “Ghostbusters” movie skyrocketed into cultural fame, ranking as the second highest-grossing film of its year. The incredible popularity it garnered transformed this standalone comedy into a multimillion-dollar franchise. A significant factor contributing to its success was the star-studded cast that graced the franchise, featuring stars like Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Paul Rudd, and Sigourney Weaver. Interestingly, there were several other major actors and actresses who nearly joined the “Ghostbusters” family, but for various reasons, all eight of them ultimately declined roles in this popular franchise.
9 Rick Moranis
Indeed, Rick Moranis is known for his roles as Louis Tully in both the original Ghostbusters (1984) and its sequel, Ghostbusters II (1989). However, contrary to some expectations, Moranis opted out of participating in the more recent Ghostbusters sequels, specifically Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024). Following his wife’s unfortunate passing due to cancer in 1991, Moranis chose to step away from acting and devote himself fully to raising his two children as a single parent, choosing to stay out of the public spotlight.
More recently, he announced that he’s no longer living in retirement and is choosing his roles carefully. It seems the upcoming Ghostbusters sequels didn’t pique his interest. However, he did agree to return as Wayne Szalinski in a new installment of the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids series. But the movie, Shrunk, has been stalled in production since the 2020 pandemic halted its progress.
8 John Candy
Initially, it was John Candy, a renowned comedian from the 80s, who was considered for the role of Louis Tully instead of Rick Moranis. However, the part eventually went to Moranis. Candy starred in films like “Spaceballs,” “Home Alone,” “Uncle Buck,” and “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” before his passing.
He nearly added the original Ghostbusters to that impressive list, but he told the film’s director, Ivan Reitman, that he didn’t understand Louis Tully’s character. He oddly suggested portraying him as a German foreigner, who owned multiple German Shepherds. But the filmmakers wisely declined, which prompted Candy to decline as well.
7 Sandra Bernhard
In the past, Sandra Bernhard was a comedian on the rise who is not as well-known today, but she made a significant impact in the comedy world during the late 1970s. She gained recognition through her stand-up performances and went on to act in movies and TV shows. Notable appearances include roles in sitcoms like “Roseanne” and “Will & Grace”, as well as films such as Martin Scorsese’s “The King of Comedy”.
Initially, Bernhard was given the chance to play the character of the stern Ghostbusters secretary, Janine Melnitz. However, she declined the offer, and eventually, Annie Potts stepped into the role. Since then, Potts has reprised her part as Janine in all subsequent Ghostbusters movies.
6 Paul Reubens
Paul Reubens became well-known by portraying the comedic character Pee-wee Herman in numerous movies and TV shows throughout the 1980s. Interestingly enough, before Pee Wee’s popularity soared, Reubens was given the chance to play the villainous character Gozer the Gozerian from Ghostbusters. Originally, Gozer was envisioned as a businessman-architect, quite different from the androgynous figure we eventually saw. However, Reubens declined the part, which was eventually taken by Yugoslavian actress Slavitza Jovan.
5 Steve Guttenberg
Initially, it was envisioned that no one but John Belushi would embody the witty and comedic character of Dr. Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters. However, this almost happened differently, as the part was initially penned for Belushi’s friend and Saturday Night Live (SNL) comrade. Unfortunately, Belushi passed away prematurely. In his stead, Aykroyd turned to another SNL colleague – Bill Murray. To everyone’s surprise, Murray agreed to join the cast without a formal contract, which was characteristic of him. The film’s producers, however, were anxious due to Murray’s unpredictable nature, and even considered other actors like Steve Guttenberg for the role.
During the 1980s, Guttenberg was on the verge of comedy stardom. Before he reached that peak, he was presented with the opportunity to play Venkman. However, Guttenberg opted against this role and instead chose to be in the film “Police Academy” from 1984. This choice wasn’t a mistake, as “Police Academy,” while not as famous as “Ghostbusters,” did boost his career significantly. Following this, he appeared in several well-known movies like “Cocoon,” “Three Men and a Baby,” and “Diner.” Guttenberg’s fame dwindled during the ’90s, and he has yet to regain the success he had earlier.
4 Chevy Chase
Apart from Steve Guttenberg, Chevy Chase – a fellow comedian from Saturday Night Live and a dominant force in comedy during the 1970s and ’80s, known for movies like “Caddyshack”, the “National Lampoon’s Vacation” series, and “Fletch” – also declined the role of Venkman.
Reflecting on my career, I can’t help but ponder the what-ifs, as there were several iconic roles I declined in the past. Among them were Forrest Gump, American Gigolo, and who could forget Ghostbusters?
3 Emma Stone
As a passionate admirer, who would’ve thought that the charming redhead from “Superbad” would blossom into one of today’s most illustrious actresses in Hollywood? At only 35 years old, Emma Stone has already amassed an astounding collection of two Academy Awards for her exceptional roles in “La La Land” and “Poor Things.” Her cinematic journey is nothing short of extraordinary, encompassing a diverse range of genres. From the hilarious comedies such as “Easy A” and “Crazy, Stupid Love,” to critically acclaimed masterpieces like “Birdman” and “The Favourite.
In a turn of events, the offer was made to Stone to star in the 2016 version of Ghostbusters: Answer the Call, which featured an all-female cast. However, she declined the role, chiefly due to her reluctance to join another franchise, given her prior appearances in the Amazing Spider-Man films with Andrew Garfield. In hindsight, this appears to have been a shrewd move. Indeed, the 2016 Ghostbusters received a barrage of negative reviews and misogynistic criticism online for being perceived as too progressive. Regrettably, the film, overall, was not well-received.
2 Eddie Murphy
Everybody knows Eddie Murphy as a comedy legend. He’s appeared in some funny and iconic movies over the years, including Shrek, Coming to America, Trading Places, The Nutty Professor, Mulan, and many others. But what most people don’t know is that Murphy was supposed to appear in Ghostbusters. Or at least, that was Dan Aykroyd’s hope.
I was part of a group who were inspired by Aykroyd’s script for Ghostbusters, envisioning John Belushi as Venkman and Eddie Murphy as Winston Zeddemore, the newest addition to the team. However, when Murphy declined, Ernie Hudson stepped in instead. But it turned out to be a wise move by Murphy, who opted to take on the lead role in Beverly Hills Cop instead. Fun fact: did you know that Beverly Hills Cop was the highest-grossing film of 1984, even surpassing Ghostbusters?
1 Michael Keaton
In the 1980s, Michael Keaton was also a comedic talent on the rise. Interestingly, he was presented with not just one but two roles in the 1984 movie “Ghostbusters”. While Harold Ramis portrayed Egon Spengler, it was initially offered to Keaton as well.
Initially, Keaton turned down two roles despite not yet achieving Hollywood stardom. However, that changed in the late ’80s when he landed successive hits directed by Tim Burton: 1988’s “Beetlejuice” and 1989’s “Batman.” Keaton’s career was rejuvenated with the release of “Birdman” in 2014, where he co-starred with Emma Stone.
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2024-11-04 06:02