Paul Feig’s 2016 Ghostbusters reboot has gained a lot of attention for its decision to separate itself from the 1984 original and its sequel in 1989, as well as to cast an all-female team to replace an all-male ensemble. Even now, just a few short months prior to its cinema release, there’s relatively little known about the film’s plot or anything spoiler-wise - which is exactly what Feig intended.
However, with secrecy surrounding what’ll happen in the new movie, more details on the main villain have emerged, while keeping a firm lid on anything that could give anything away. Similarly, Feig’s hinted at a potential ‘multiverse’ option, whereby this new universe of ghost hunters could crossover and merge with the one from the ’80s.
Speaking to Cinemablend, Katie Dippold, the Ghostbusters reboot’s co-writer, had some choice words as to the identity of the franchise’s latest baddie.
“So our villain, so to speak, is a very smart genius type himself… I don’t want to give anything away… I guess I’ll say they kind of meet, they’re very smart people, they’re scientists and there is someone who is equivalent to them, but he, whereas they want to do good, he does not.”
The implication here is that it could turn out to be a character the Ghostbusters Abby (Melissa McCarthy), Erin (Kristen Wiig), Jillian (Kate McKinnon), and Patty (Lessie Jones) are allied with - Chris Hemsworth’s Kevin, perhaps? He could be posing as a secretary in order to wreak ghosty havoc on the city… but it’s unlikely. An even more outlandish suggestion would be that one of the original cast who cameos could be the antagonist. Imagine if it was Bill Murray, for example?
What’s more, despite the 2016 reboot and the ’80s films set in completely different universes, Feig (who also directed Bridesmaids, The Heat, and Spy) hasn’t ruled out some sort of crossover down the line. While also talking to Cinemablend, he was keen to keep the ‘multiverse’ door wedged open.
“I think they’re trying to figure out how to connect the old one with this. I’d like, if it’s a multiverse, something to base off this universe that we’re going right now.”
The idea that a ‘multiverse’ option could conceivably happen is pretty huge news, especially if it means seeing the original ‘busters (minus the late Harold Ramis, of course) teaming up with the new faces. Both Feig and Dippold are playing their cards extremely close to their chests, but these new snippets are at least something for Ghostbusters fans to speculate over for the time being.
It’s difficult to theorise who the reboot’s villain could actually be because, for the most part, the production’s been airtight. Other than someone from the original cast, which seems a stretch, Hemsworth’s character could fall on the wrong side of morality and double cross them. There has been talk that comedy actor Neil Casey could be the evil presence, but even though he’s worked with Feig previously on the series Other Space, there’s no evidence to suggest his character Rowan is the one (on a related note: those wishing to avoid potential Ghostbusters SPOILERS in this regard best stay clear of the recently-announced Funko Pop! Vinyl set).
Ghostbusters will open in U.S. theaters on July 15th, 2016.
Sources: Cinemablend (2)
