Dan Aykroyd Admits He Was ‘Mad’ About 2016 ‘Ghostbusters,’ but Doesn’t ‘Besmirch’ It

Samantha Bergeson
·2 min read
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Dan Aykroyd ain’t afraid to change his mind on the infamous 2016 “Ghostbusters” reboot.

The original “Ghostbusters” actor and screenwriter of the 1984 film told People that while he was “mad” at the 2016 production at the time, he is “proud” of the franchise installment — despite the film being a commercial and critical flop.

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Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones led the franchise reimagining directed by Paul Feig. The film endured backlash prior to its release, with the trailer being one of the most disliked film trailer posts in YouTube history at the time.

“I liked the movie [director] Paul Feig made with those spectacular women,” Aykroyd, who produced the 2016 film, said. “I was mad at them at the time because I was supposed to be a producer on there and I didn’t do my job and I didn’t argue about costs. And it cost perhaps more than it should, and they all do. All these movies do.”

He continued, “But boy, I liked that film. I thought that the villain at the end was great. I loved so much of it. And of course, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones and Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig, you’re never going to do better than that. So I go on the record as saying I’m so proud to have been able to license that movie and have a hand and have a part in it, and I’m fully supportive of it, and I don’t besmirch it at all. I think it works really great amongst all the ones that have been made.”

Aykroyd later returned onscreen to the franchise after it was rebooted once more with “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” and 2024 sequel “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.” He was joined in those films by fellow OG ‘busters Ernie Hudson and Bill Murray.

Hudson previously told The Independent that the 2016 all-female film was “disappointing” to franchise fans.

“Fans were really invested in the story and the characters and I think it was disappointing,” Hudson said. “I enjoyed the movie but I think it wasn’t what fans were hoping for.”

He added, “Look, I’m a fan of Paul Feig so I have nothing negative about him to say. Other than: I don’t quite understand why you do a reboot, you know what I mean? Just make another movie.”

Hudson noted that the core cast were “brilliantly funny on their own” — but it did not work within the canon of the franchise.

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