Ghostbusters 3 Casting, Let's Speculate!

Listen, I don't care who you think should be cast, you are wrong. In 1997 the dream team was Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Mike Myers and Chris Farley. In 2003 it was Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn and Jack Black. In 2007 the dream team was Steve Carell, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd. 

Today the team changes again. Think you can do better? Throw down. Feel free to try to argue anyone out of the movie, but I will tell you why you are wrong and I am right.

Ladies and Gentleman, your Ghostbusters.

CORE FOUR:

Bill Hader as Heart

I shouldn't even have to sell you on this one. An SNL actor has to be in the cast and Hader is our first choice. He has not worn out his welcome in the spotlight (yet) and would make a fine scientist. He can be the heart of the Ghostbusters and finally own a franchise-able character. He made a hilarious cameo in Men in Black 3 this summer, written by Ghostbusters 3's current scribe Etan Cohen.

Melissa McCarthy as Mouth

We know they're adding a woman to the crew. She needs to be hilarious, and we're doubtful a wafer-thin lady is going to look right in a jumpsuit, handling one of those heavy packs. Thus, McCarthy seems like an amazing choice here. We think she should be the new Bill Murray of the group as the mouth, reverse-womanizer (manizer?) and wit of the Ghostbusters. McCarthy did a bang-up job on SNL and she's fierce to boot. She ain't afraid of no ghost and knows the other actor busters well. Comedy has needed a woman as strong as Melissa for a long time and after her breakout in Bridesmaids... this is her franchise to own.

Jason Sudeikus as a Sleezy Everyman

We need Hader's heart to have a realist buddy with great comedic timing. Murray and Aykroyd worked so well together because they've played with each other before. Hader/Sudeikus can work in this same way. Sudeikus can also do sleezy character extremely well. One can imagine him doling out damage to a major New York landmark and brushing it off. 

JUDGE FOR YOURSELF: An SNL Sketch with McCarthy, Sudeikus and Hader.

Donald Glover as Brains

The cast needs some color but should avoid pigeon holing a black character into an Everyman/Winston role. Come to think of it, Donald's Community co-star Danny Pudi would also fit the bill fairly well in this spot, but he's less ready for a breakout leading role than Donald is. Donald knows nerdy. If he can make us laugh out loud remains to be seen, but he has a great energy about him, is generally beloved in the comedy world and would hurt the cast in zero ways.

Venkman or not, Ghostbusters or not, as a comedy snob... I would see this film. Face it, you would too. The NBC dynamic is strong and passing the legacy torch to these comedians would yield much funny. Now that doesn't have to be the end of it, there are plenty of cameo opportunities for New Yorkers and SNL alumn. The following are GB3 Blog approved...

SUPPORTING

Jane Lynch, as a love interest for an original Ghostbuster. 

Kristin Wiig as a love interest for a new Ghostbuster 

Fred Armisen as a New Yorker. 
Will Arnett as a bureaucrat and McCarthy love interest. 

Alec Baldwin as the mayor of New York. 

Nick Offerman as a property owner. 

Emma Stone pushing papers and answering phones back at the office. 

Bret Gelman in a villanous role. Google him, you've seen his face on Funny or Die a LOT, always in quality material. 
And let's not forget Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd as mentors with a cameo from Ernie Hudson. 

OSCAR???

And finally... playing with the big boys, there may be need for an Oscar. Now, perhaps with Murray out of the script they can remove this character entirely... that would be best. But if unavoidable, we would need a blonde, white comedian at age 21-25, and finding the perfect person is a HARD CALL. Most respected comedians are out of this age range and those who can play that young are completely overexposed (think Jonah Hill, Michael Cera) So it is with much research we must present newcomer Bo Burnham,a dirty blonde YouTube megastar (WATCH) that made the cross over to Comedy Central specials this year. He can do scientist, he can do subtle and he can bring in the younger audience without compromising the older audience. Seems he should be a GBIT (Ghostbuster in training) who gets a shot at the big time come film's end, ala Louis Tully. It would be best if this character could be a bit schlubby, like a young Zach Galifinakis... yet the blonde facial hair and lack of actual Venkman genetics will really put a crimp in that. 

MAIN CAST ALTERNATES

Steve Merchant as Brains

I present for your consideration, Steve Merchant. You know him from the U.K. version of the Office, as the hilarious voice of Wheatley from Portal 2 and he is currently starring in a project... by Ghostbusters 3's first draft writers Eisenberg and Stupnitsky. Dry international British scientist flavor, anyone? One of the funniest men alive IMO. He can be the brains of the Ghostbusters. Remember: Harold Ramis wasn't really a big name, nor did he ever become one. Merchant fits that bill well with a great character twist that will keep it fresh. With this move, Glover would have to be bumped away from Brains and likely to everyman. It's a trade-off, we lose the Hader/Sudeikus team up but we gain an extremely smart voice that can add a lot of unique stuff to the film. An Asian actor with the clout of Ken Jeong would be ideal to create a new niched character, but Ken is a tad too old. We still believe Donald would be a fine straight man with a resume of gold and strong ties to the current comedy world. 

Rob Corddry as Everyman

We say Rob Corddry as the bald Ghostbuster. Unconvinced? Go watch a few episodes of Children's Hospital and get back to us. It helps the cast remain a little less pretty to have a bald guy in the mix over Sudeikus . Hopefully having a Brit and a woman on the team satisfies diversity quota as well, enough to nix Glover. 

About the selection process: New Ghostbusters cannot be in their late 40s or older. They cannot be under 25 either... they're adults in their 30's, best case scenerio. They need to be TV star comedians first and foremost (as Murray, Aykroyd, Ramis and Moranis were), just finding their foothold in the motion picture business. Exceptions can be made for actors playing straight characters (see: Potts, Hudson, Weaver). They cannot be over-exposed or movie goers will not accept them in the roles. They cannot be beautiful people, they're scientist/janitors that get slimed for a living and live in a firehouse.

Again, think you can do better? Let the debate begin. Hint, your choice is too old, too obscure or too over-exposed. Oh, that guy? He would never be in a Ghostbusters movie, he considers himself too cool. Her? I know you like her and all, but can she really make you laugh harder than McCarthy?