Dan Aykroyd isn’t pulling any punches over “Ghostbusters” director Paul Feig’s deadly budget.
Aykroyd, 64, criticized the remake’s director for spending way too much money on the movie and crippling any chance for a remake. “I was really happy with the movie, but it cost too much. And Sony does not like to lose money,” the actor told Britain’s “Sunday Brunch”.
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“It made a lot of money around the world but it just cost too much, making it economically not feasible to do another one,” he added. Aykroyd solely put the blame on the shoulders of Feig, who he accused of unnecessarily costing the production tens of millions in re-shoots: “The director, he spent too much on it.”
“He didn’t shoot scenes we suggested to him, several scenes that were going to be needed, and he said, ‘No, we don’t need them,’ and then we tested the movie and they needed them and he had to go back — about $30 to $40 million in re-shoots,” Aykroyd continued. “So, yeah, he will not be back on the Sony lot anytime soon.”
The original “Ghostbusters” star, who had a cameo in the remake, did however praise the all-star female cast: “The girls are great in it. Kate McKinnon, Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig – what a wonderful, wonderful players they are – and Leslie Jones.”
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Sony confirmed that re-shoots did take place, but said the costs were about a tenth of what Aykroyd suggested. Sony Pictures spokeswoman Jean Guerin confirmed the re-shoots cost $3 to $4 million and defended Feig — according to the Associated Press. The company has “a strong relationship” with Feig and “incredible respect for his work,” Guerin explained.
Sony Pictures hasn’t confirmed a sequel to the 2016 remake, but say they have plans for “Ghostbusters” television and family projects. The movie cost a reported $144 million (plus marketing) and earned close to $240 million worldwide.
