Update 4:57 p.m. PST: The new “Ghostbusters” will be released on July 22, 2016, Feig tweeted.
Original story: Sony Pictures’ all-female reboot of the iconic “Ghostbusters” franchise is coming into focus with four funny female leads.
Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy, along with “Saturday Night Live” cast members Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones, are in negotiations to join the film, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.
Paul Feig is attached to direct, which would mark a “Bridesmaids” reunion for him, Wiig and McCarthy. Feig himself tipped off social media to the potential stars by tweeting a photo of all four ladies.
Plans for the franchise first surfaced in October, when Feig said he wanted to stay faithful to the beloved original movies starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and the late Harold Ramis.
Kate Dippold and Feig co-wrote the screenplay for the reboot of the iconic comedy, and filming is expected to begin this year.
Wiig, nominated for an Oscar for co-writing “Bridesmaids,” was a “SNL” cast member from 2005 to 2012. Last year she starred alongside Bill Hader in “The Skeleton Twins”and voiced Ruffnut in “How to Train Your Dragon 2.” She’s currently in production on Ridley Scott‘s “The Martian.”
UTA, Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment and Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer Austen Mandelbaum Morris & Klein represent Wiig.
McCarthy was best known for co-starring on the WB’s “Gilmore Girls” until breaking through on the big screen in “Bridesmaids” in 2011. Since then she has starred in two more Feig directed films, including “Heat” and the upcoming espionage comedy “Spy,” set for a May release.
CAA and MGMT Entertainment represent her.
McKinnon, who has appeared on “SNL” since 2012, appears alongside Wiig and Jones in Relativity’s upcoming heist comedy “Masterminds.” She also co-stars in Jason Moore’s (“Pitch Perfect”) upcoming comedy “Sisters.”
UTA, Principato-Young Entertainment and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush & Kaller represent her.
Jones, who just joined the “SNL” cast in 2014, also recently appeared in Chris Rock’s “Top Five.”
Agency for the Performing Arts, Integral Entertainment and Pierce Law Group rep her.
Here’s Paul Feig’s tweet:
— Paul Feig (@paulfeig) January 27, 2015