In a rare interview, Rick Moranis told THR why he chose not to appear in Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters reboot with his fellow co-stars, Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts:
“I wish them well. I hope it’s terrific. But it just makes no sense to me. Why would I do just one day of shooting on something I did 30 years ago? … [It] didn’t appeal to me.”
He also touches on Hollywood’s fallback on rehashing old material:
“It’s hard to come up with original material. Occasionally, they get it right or else they wouldn’t attempt to do these things. I’m surprised that Disney hasn’t done Honey, I Shrunk the Grandkids. But I’m happy with the things I said yes to, and I’m very happy with the many things I’ve said no to. Yes, I am picky, and I’ll continue to be picky. Picky has worked for me.”
Moranis stepped away from Hollywood for a while to raise his young kids after his wife passed away in 1997. Since then he has done mostly voice work, and comedy folk albums. Now that his kids are grown, it sounds like he might be willing to step back, given the right project:
“…I’m interested in anything that I would find interesting. I still get the occasional query about a film or television role, and as soon as one comes along that piques my interest, I’ll probably do it. [But Ghostbusters] didn’t appeal to me.”