'Ghostbusters' Reboot Lands 'The Heat' Writer Katie Dippold (Exclusive)
Katie Dippold, who wrote Paul Feig’s female buddy action comedy The Heat, is reteaming with the director for Sony's new Ghostbusters movie.
Dippold has been tapped to co-write the script with Feig for the long-gestating third installment.
After years of development as a sequel with the intent to bring back the original team (Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray and Harold Ramis), script setbacks eventually shifted the focus to a new generation (think Jonah Hill). Ramis died earlier this year and then original director Ivan Reitman left in March.
Feig came on board to rejuvenate the project in August, with a twist: the Ghostbusters would now be a female team, and the project would launch a new series instead of being connected to the earlier movies.
Read more 'Ghostbusters 3' Targets Paul Feig as Director
Feig is already seen as female-friendly in comic circles; he directed Bridesmaids (which gave Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy career breakouts) and then The Heat, which starred McCarthy and Sandra Bullock.
Dippold’s hiring will buttress the female voice as the script is overhauled. She recently finished penning a sequel for The Heat and previously honed her comedic voice working on NBC’s Parks and Recreation as well as MadTV.
It is unclear at this stage if this will be Feig's next movie. Feig and his Feigco Entertainment partner Jessie Henderson will executive produce. Reitman will serve as producer.
Dippold is repped by WME and 3 Arts Entertainment.
Feig later confirmed the news in a tweet.
It's official. I'm making a new Ghostbusters & writing it with @katiedippold & yes, it will star hilarious women. That's who I'm gonna call.
— Paul Feig (@paulfeig) October 8, 2014
Oct. 8, 1:02 p.m. Updated with Paul Feig tweet.
