Director Paul Feig ("Birdesmaids", "The Heat") is slated to helm an all-female led reboot of the iconic "Ghostbusters" franchise. Fans of the original that fondly remember the humor that saturated the film like ectoplasmic goo will surely be surprised to hear that Feig drew inspiration for his reboot from AMC's "The Walking Dead."
"The Walking Dead" is a fine show in its own right, but rarely do fans compare the dreary and grim world filled with flesh devouring zombies to the more cheery and upbeat "Ghostbusters" universe. Nonetheless, Feig managed to find a connection.
"I will say, I was very inspired by this show," Feig said on this past Sunday's episode of "The Talking Dead." "What I love is how they play with the danger, they play with the scariness, but also the idea that it's always about gauntlet run. And that's something, an element I want to bring to this 'Ghostbusters' reboot is having to get through these various obstacles that are supernatural and all that. I really feed off of 'The Walking Dead.'"
Based only off of these comments, Feig could be angling for a different tone in his new "Ghostbusters" world. However, he may not stray too far from the silliness with a cast headlined by the comic forces of Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones. Perhaps, Feig just wants to incorporate the exciting action that often befalls Rick Grimes and his glum band of post-apocalyptic survivors.
Overall, fans shouldn't be too worried that "Ghostbusters" is about to get the Christopher Nolan dark-and-gritty overhaul. Feig is likely just hinting at an increase in the battles against the supernatural, and not an entire tonal shift for the whole film. After all, we are talking about a director who made his name by having a bride-to-be fail to make it to a toilet in time.
"Ghostbusters" is scheduled to be released on July 22 of 2016.
