“Ghostbusters” remake director Paul Feig says actress Leslie Jones’ role in the movie was originally written for Melissa McCarthy.
The film features Jones, the only African-American female lead, as a subway worker while the other three Caucasian leads play scientists, reported Variety.
“When Katie (Dippold, co-writer) and I wrote the script, we had written the role with Melissa in mind. But then I thought, I’ve seen Melissa play a brash, larger than life character,” Feig said.
“She’s one of my favorite people on the planet. I don’t normally like comedy that’s big and loud, but she is able to pull that off in a way that feels real and it’s her,” he said about Jones.
The filmmaker said he thought the role of Patty would allow Jones to give a great comedy performance.
“I wanted to unleash Leslie on the public in the same way we unleashed Melissa on the public in ‘Bridesmaids,’ with a very showy role.”