Melissa McCarthy has landed the lead role in the all-new reboot of classic 80s movie Ghostbusters.
Melissa, 44, will make up one quarter of the all-new all-female line up that will also include her Bridesmaids co-star Kristen Wiig, as well as two favourite cast-members of the comedy-career-making US sketch show Saturday Night Live: Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones.
Melissa’s casting had been rumoured for some time – she even joked about it on The Ellen DeGeneres Show along with Girls creator and star Lena Dunham (see the video below).
It was thought the 80s classic was being re-worked to include some female stars – but the news that ALL four of the lead Ghostbusters team will be played by women was a surprise report that came today via The Hollywood Reporter.
Melissa McCarthy shows off her amazing 20 kilo weight loss!
It was initially thought that original cast-members Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson, would return to reprise their roles – 21 years after the original film was released in 1984. Fourth team-member – the beloved Bill Murray, seemed to be more non-committal.
Saturday Night Live stars Kate McKinnon (left) and Leslie Jones (right) will also be starring in the all-female cast.
Sadly, Harold Ramis passed away late last year, but it’s thought that the other cast members may make cameo appearances.
The film will be directed by Paul Feig – who was also at the helm of Melissa McCarthy’s other big movies The Heat, – which co-starred Sandra Bullock, and Bridesmaids, which was co-written by Kristen Wiig.
Melissa McCarthy on her costume from Adam Levine’s Halloween
No word yet on when the new movie will be released, but it’s believed the shoot is planned to take place in New York this year, and we await the release of the finished movie with great anticipation!
