'Ghostbusters' backlash is about more than sexism, says producer Ivan Reitman
What is Ivan Reitman, the director and producer of the original Ghostbusters and producer of the upcoming reboot, most excited to hear from fans about?
The movie's four stars: Leslie Jones, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Kristen Wiig.
"How wonderful those four women are together," Reitman told Mashable, in an interview at the ribbon-cutting for the new Madame Tussauds New York attraction, Ghostbusters: Dimension.
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"Individually and together, they're as unique as Bill Murray and Aykroyd and Ramis and Hudson were," he said. "They look like they should be together. You can't explain it until you see them moving and talking."
The Ghostbusters reboot has received criticism questioning the need for a reboot, as well as the decision to cast four women as the ghostbusting stars.
For his part, Reitman thinks the backlash has more to do with nostalgia than anger over a perception that political correctness influenced creative choices.
"I think there's way too much talk about gender [when it comes to this film]," he said. "I think that many of the people who were complaining were actually lovers of the [original] movie, not haters of women."
Reitman also isn't a fan of the way the reboot's critics have been lumped together by the movie's defenders under the catch-all banner of "internet trolls."
"Everybody is my audience. Whether they like what I did or didn't like it," he said. "I've certainly had my experience with things that did not work. This movie works, [but] no one's really seen it."
"I think there's way too much talk about gender."
Reitman admits that the reboot's original reveal trailer was also a problem. Among other things, that first look didn't make it clear that the new movie is not a remake but a reboot, set in a fictional universe that stands apart from the original movies.
"I think we got off to a bad start," Reitman said. "It wasn't so much that the trailer was bad or terrible. In its minute and a half, it couldn't represent what the movie actually is."
He respects the fans who have formed around the series he helped create. The original Ghostbusters has held a special meaning for lots of people for decades.
"I think the lovers of the [original] movie felt there was some kind of sacrilege to re-do it, because it was a seminal part of their moviegoing experience as a 7- or 8-year-old," Reitman said. "That's something that can't be minimized, and I totally respect that love."
There's no denying that part of the backlash against the new movie is fueled by misogyny, but there's merit to his belief that some concerned fans are creating a lot of noise out of nostalgia, as well.
And for those fans, Reitman has a simple request.
"All I am asking is that they give the film a shot," he said. "I think it is a very satisfying and wonderful experience on its own [and] I think most people are going to go with it."
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Topics Film
Adam Rosenberg is a Senior Games Reporter for Mashable, where he plays all the games. Every single one. From AAA blockbusters to indie darlings to mobile favorites and browser-based oddities, he consumes as much as he can, whenever he can.Adam brings more than a decade of experience working in the space to the Mashable Games team. He previously headed up all games coverage at Digital Trends, and prior to that was a long-time, full-time freelancer, writing for a diverse lineup of outlets that includes Rolling Stone, MTV, G4, Joystiq, IGN, Official Xbox Magazine, EGM, 1UP, UGO and others.Born and raised in the beautiful suburbs of New York, Adam has spent his life in and around the city. He's a New York University graduate with a double major in Journalism and Cinema Studios. He's also a certified audio engineer. Currently, Adam resides in Crown Heights with his dog and his partner's two cats. He's a lover of fine food, adorable animals, video games, all things geeky and shiny gadgets.
