All of the original Ghostbusters cast members are lending their voice talents to the upcoming video game release, with the exception of one. Can you guess who the one holdout is?
Bill Murray? Guess again.
Dan Aykroyd? The dude just appeared in I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, so clearly he’ll do anything…
The answer is… Rick Moranis?!
According to m&c, Moranis retired after he “made so much money off of Honey I Shrunk The Kids”. Other than some voice work on a couple Disney films, Moranis hasn’t appeared in a wide big screen release since 1996’s Big Bully. Moranis portrayed Sigourney Weaver’s Manhattan neighbor Louis Tully in the original film and 1989 sequel. Apparently this news broke last month, but I just heard about it now and thought it was interesting enough to share.
Sierra Producer Ben Borth and Terminal Reality Development Director Brendan Goss have confirmed Dan Akroyd, Bill Murray, Annie Potts and William Atherton, who played the cranky city inspector. Now I understand Moranis wants to spend his time with his family, and he’s not in need of cash. I mean, he did provide the voice for a character in the 2006’s direct-to-dvd animated film Brother Bear 2. But is it too much to ask for a few hours in a recording studio to satisfy the fans of the movie franchise that made his career?
July 7th, 2008 at 1:14 am
°But is it too much to ask for a few hours in a recording studio to satisfy the fans of the movie franchise that made his career?
Of course, remember … retirement! So it is to much to ask for some respect?
July 7th, 2008 at 1:25 am
Sigourney Weaver is also not appearing in the game.
July 7th, 2008 at 1:31 am
Oliver: He came out of his house to voice a character in 2006’s Brother Bear 2 direct-to-dvd release movie…. but not a Ghostbusters video game?!
July 7th, 2008 at 1:32 am
Hmm. Retirement is retirement. I think Indy 4 would have been funnier with Sean Connery in it. And concerning Rick Moranis: I always thought he was funny in “Little Shop of Horrors” and the Ghostbusters-Series. The “Shrink-Kids”-Movies all sucked, in my opinion.
July 7th, 2008 at 1:47 am
Sad news.
One of the best movie experiences I had was watching Ghostbusters from a 70mm print showed at the Seattle Cinerama. Last November I saw it ,but I appreciated “Ghostbusters” more than my first (home video).
With that experience I can say strongly Ghostbusters 2 is not as good as its original. Number 2 is entertaining ,but not as exciting as the first film.
July 7th, 2008 at 3:02 am
Peter S. How can you forgot Ernie Hudson aka Winston Zedmore?, he is also in the game :)
July 7th, 2008 at 7:06 am
Give Moranis some respect. He retired after his wife died and those cartoon voices were with his long time Strange Brew partner Dave Thomas.
Moranis hated Ghostbusters 2 and didn’t want to go back, pure and simple. and talking with a lot of people, he’s not alone.
July 7th, 2008 at 7:55 am
He’s seen shit that’ll turn you white.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:11 am
Wow this is unexpected. You’d think he’d be the first on board for this mini-reunion. I’d prefer a movie even if they’re all way past their prime. I’ll take comedy geniuses over the next overrated apatow bullshit.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:26 am
I find it hard to believe that was his reason. He’s doing a Doug and Bob McKenzie animated series so it’s not like he’s retired.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Um. I don’t know about this, Peter. You must be a big Ghostbusters fan to be miffed about Moranis not wanting to lend his voice.
What about if the producers of the game get Moranis’ signature to get a voice impersonator to do him? Would that be satisfactory?
July 7th, 2008 at 10:39 am
I don’t think it’s anyone’s business why he does or doesn’t want to voice a video game character. Further, I think it’s really sad you’d try to hold this against him, or use the argument “it made his career, he OWES it to the fans, blah whine sniffle snob.”
He doesn’t owe the fans anything. If anything, we owe him thanks for making Ghostbusters as good as it was, for bringing such a great performance to the role, and for all his hard work. Heaven forbid he feels done with the series and wants to move on or retire.
You fanboys, man, you think Lucy Lawless and Sarah Michelle Gellar and Sean Connery owe you something more than the great performances they gave you on screen. I can’t wait for the Dark Knight fanboys to start insulting Heath when he doesn’t return as the joker in the next movie.
July 7th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
So Brandon is on his period this week. Thanks for letting us know!
Does Moranis owe us anything? No. He already took all our money from the Ghostbusters movie and video sales, so why not give back to fans who love the series? It’s not like he has to wear makeup or be filmed. If he’s a fat ass like Egon, Stanz and Zedemore who gives a shit, it’s voice work. Fuck him.
July 7th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
i was just thinking about moranis like a week ago. I realized he hadnt done anything in a while, so i figured he was dead. well at least he is still alive.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Why is the guy credited as a writer on IMDB for the Ghostbusters Video Game? I smell fish.
July 8th, 2008 at 3:32 am
I don’t think he “owes” it to anyone — but, on the other hand, remembering where you came from (or at least where you struck it big) isn’t such a bad thing, either. People are right, though — Sigourney Weaver isn’t doing this either and I didn’t notice anyone jumping on her about it.
My guess is that there are some other reasons for this. The only reason I’ve heard about Moranis’s motive comes from another source who says he doesn’t want to work anymore, which clearly isn’t entirely true (since, as others have noted, he has worked since then).
July 8th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Like the character Dana, I really don’t think Louis Tully is needed for the sequel….Who knows, maybe they’ll keep the character and someone other than Rick Moranis will be lending the voice talent.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:15 pm
I dunno. I think they’re all retarded for goin’ with animation for the movie, and as far as the video game they need to get their heads out of their asses and realize that all of them as a total are what made the franchise what it is. Oh well, to each his own. I suppose they could always get Frank Calliendo to do the voice of Moranis’ character. He does an amazing impression.
July 28th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Well, while I would’ve really liked Moranis to in the game, I can easily get over him not being in it. I’ll gladly take Bill Murray in it over Moranis, and I’m still thrilled about the game existing at all to get too worked up over it. Let him enjoy his “retirement” or whatever excuse he wants to use.
And as to actors “not owing anything” to the fans who made them rich and famous? Get over yourself. The very idea is ridiculous. While I agree that they shouldn’t be continuously hounded by paparazzi and the like and should be able to have their private lives stay private, they still most definitely DO owe something to the fans who contributed the money that makes their “retirements” possible.
And yes, I am a HUGE Ghostbusters fan. I consider it the greatest movie ever made, a perfect blend of science fiction, horror, and comedy. The combination of science fiction and horror is actually Lovecraftian, and it still gives me thrills and excites my imagination.