Released in 1984, Ivan Reitman’s supernatural comedy film Ghostbusters has become a cultural phenomenon, with its memorable story and iconic characters portrayed by Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson.
And the original cast of the film is set to return in the upcoming film in the franchise, Frozen Empire. Fans are highly eager to see the original cast of the film returning to the screen alongside the new cast, as it certainly seems impossible to imagine anyone else in the ghost-busting ensemble.
However, the casting process could have taken a different direction as the filmmakers had other names in mind as well, even for Murray’s iconic character Peter Venkman. Dan Aykroyd wrote the character for the late actor-comedian John Belushi.
However, the actor sadly passed away in 1982. The role was then offered to several actors, including Robin Williams and Tom Hanks before Murray officially joined the cast.
Robin Williams
The late Hollywood star Robin Williams is considered one of the best actors of all time and has portrayed a wide range of characters on screen. And one such iconic character could have also been the Ghostbusters protagonist, Peter Venkman.
Williams was reportedly under consideration for the role of Peter Venkman, the charismatic leader of the Ghostbusters team. While it adds an intriguing layer to the casting possibilities, the exact details surrounding the alleged proposal remain somewhat elusive along with the reason why the Oscar-winning actor ultimately did not secure a spot in the final cast of the film.
Tom Hanks
Another actor, who almost landed the role of Peter Venkman in the film series was Tom Hanks. The actor, who has boasted a number of iconic characters on screen throughout his career, was relatively new in the industry at the time.
And among many other contenders, he was also in talks to join the Ghostbusters as Venkman before Bill Murray took over the role. However, much like the situation with Robin Williams, specific details regarding Hanks’ potential casting and the reasons for his eventual exit from the ensemble cast remain somewhat unclear.
Michael Keaton
While many other names are considered to be the rumor, as per Collider, Michael Keaton was confirmed to be in the race for the role of Peter Venkman. The actor showcased his comedic chops in the 1982 film Night Shift and gained recognition for his comedic performances in subsequent years.
And before he famously donned the cape as the DC superhero Batman in 1989, Keaton was on the radar to potentially portray another iconic character in Ghostbusters. Not just Venkman, Keaton was also in the running for the part of Egon Spengler. However, he also ended up leaving the project, leading to Bill Murray and the late actor Harold Ramis being cast in the roles of Venkman and Spengler, respectively.
Chevy Chase
Actor-comedian Chevy Chase who co-starred alongside Murray in the 1980 comedy film Caddyshack was also in consideration for the role of Peter Venkman. while details are unavailable, Chase starring alongside Dan Aykroyd in Saturday Night Live in the mid-1970s might have added to his appeal for the role.
However, he would end up losing the role to Murray. Although he could not star in the 1984 blockbuster, the actor would later star alongside Aykroyd in the 1985 spy comedy film, Spies Like Us.
Steve Guttenberg
Steve Gutenberg is popularly known for starring in the comedy film series Police Academy. The film was released in the same year as Ghostbusters and both achieved significant success at the box office. It was also reportedly the film for which Guttenberg turned down the offer for the role of Peter Venkman.
However, the actor has claimed that he never passed on the role, as he shared during an interview with TMZ, “I don’t think I passed on that role. Everyone says I did, but I don’t think I did.” He also asserted that Bill Murray was “a billion times better” than he could have been.
Surprisingly, the 65-year-old actor also seemed to believe that there was never actually a sequel to the original Ghostbusters. “There wasn’t a second one,” he told TMZ as he argued that a sequel to the film was never released.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is set to release on March 22, 2024.
The original Ghostbusters is available to stream on Hulu.
