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Ghostbusters: Dan Aykroyd confirms return for 'exhilarating' all-female reboot

Aykroyd starred as Dr Raymond Stantz in the original 1984 movie

Jess Denham
Wednesday 15 July 2015 03:53 EDT
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Dan Aykroyd, centre, with Bill Murray and Harold Ramis in 1984's Ghostbusters
Dan Aykroyd, centre, with Bill Murray and Harold Ramis in 1984's Ghostbusters (Rex)

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Paul Feig has managed to tempt original ghostbuster Dan Aykroyd to star in his upcoming all-female reboot.

The actor, who played Dr Raymond Stantz in the 1984 original alongside Bill Murray, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson, tweeted on Tuesday that he was filming with new lead actress Kristin Wiig.

"On GB set shooting my scene with funny beautiful Kristin Wiig. Lady GBs are adorable, hilarious and badass. Exhilarating! #ghostbusters," his message read.

Kristin Wiig shoots Paul Feig's Ghostbusters in Boston
Kristin Wiig shoots Paul Feig's Ghostbusters in Boston (Stickman/Bauergriffin.com)

Aykroyd deleted his post two hours later, suggesting that his involvement was meant to be a secret, but Entertainment Weekly has since confirmed that he will appear after speaking with his reps.

It remains to be seen whether Aykroyd will return as Stantz or another character, but it looks like fans will have to wait until the film's release on 22 July 2016 to find out. One report from Indie Revolver suggests he may be playing a cab driver who yells "I ain't afraid of no ghosts" out of the window at Wiig.

Wiig is joined by Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon in the film, with Chris Hemsworth on board to play a male version of receptionist Janine Melnitz. Michael K Williams from The Wire and Boardwalk Empire, Andy Garcia, Cecily Strong, Matt Walsh and Pat Kiernan have also been cast.

Melissa McCarthy and Kate McKinnon on the set of all-female Ghostbusters
Melissa McCarthy and Kate McKinnon on the set of all-female Ghostbusters (Rocke/Prahl Splash News)

Wiig and McCarthy are reported to be playing "unherald authors who write a book positing that ghosts are real" and go by the names Erin Gilbert and Abby Bergman.

McKinnon stars as Bergman's new partner Jillian Holztmann, while Jones is NYC subway worked Patty Tolan who unexpectedly meets the movie's biggest supernatural threat.

Production on Ghostbusters is underway in Boston, with the first on-set pictures emerging last month.

Feig has shared photos of the new uniforms, proton packs and car on Twitter and will likely keep teasing fans right up until next summer.

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