The "Ghostbusters" trailer received swift backlash on Monday with fans outraged over the portrayal of Leslie Jones' character. Jones stars as New York transit worker Patty Tolan, who joins three scientists to combat a paranormal invasion in New York City.
Viewers criticized the movie for having the three white female leads play scientists while the one African-American lead was designated to a blue collar job. The controversy almost caused Jones to quit Twitter, but director Paul Feig encouraged her to stay and yelled at the haters to "grow up and leave my cast alone."
I think today will be the day I get rid of Twitter. Gonna really be thinking on it. Not sure I want to need it anymore. Know what I mean?
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) March 8, 2016
Don't leave us, @Lesdoggg. You are a goddess & one of the warmest funniest forces of nature I know. Fuck the haters. https://t.co/rwh8CIxCk4 — Paul Feig (@paulfeig) March 8, 2016
And haters, attack me all you want but when you attack and insult my cast, you've crossed the line. Grow up and leave my cast alone. — Paul Feig (@paulfeig) March 8, 2016
The role of Patty almost went to one of those three female leads, Melissa McCarthy. Feig and co-writer Katie Dippold were considering McCarthy for the role, but didn't want her to play a similarly "brash" character like the women she had played in Feig's previous movies, "Bridesmaids" and "The Heat."
"Actually when Katie and I wrote the script, we had written the role with Melissa in mind, but then I thought I've seen Melissa play a brash, larger than life character. She's done it in my movies before!" Feig said.
He also admired Jones' work on "Saturday Night Live" and wanted to launch her into stardom like the movie "Bridesmaids" had done for McCarthy.
"I don't normally like comedy that's big and loud, but she is able to pull that off in a way that feels real and it's her. And when I make a movie, I want to find the funniest people I know and once I know what's the funniest thing about them I want them to be the thing that I put on screen and let shine," the director said.
He continued, "This is the role that Leslie can shine comedically in. If you've ever seen her do stand-up, it's just who she is. I wanted to unleash Leslie on the public in the same way we unleashed Melissa on the public in 'Bridesmaids,' with a very showy role."
Jones and McCarthy star alongside former "SNL" cast member Kristen Wiig and current "SNL" star Kate McKinnon. Chris Hemsworth stars as the ghost-busting team's secretary. The moview will also feature cameos from the stars of the original "Ghostbusters" movie including Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts and Sigourney Weaver.
"Ghostbusters" hits theaters on July 15. Check out the latest trailer below.
