Bill Murray’s Ghostbusters is the iconic film known for perfectly balancing the horror and comedy genres. It has become a landmark for both studio comedy and effects-heavy filmmaking.
There were several difficulties initially, which even extended into casting. First, Eddie Murphy turned down the opportunity to play Winston Zeddemore because he found it “a crock.” The role was later played by Ernie Hudson.
John Belushi was the first choice of Dan Aykroyd (writer and actor) to play Peter Venkman, the role that eventually went to Bill Murray. Still, before committing to the role, the actor had concerns.
Bill Murray Initially Had Concerns About Casting in Ghostbusters
Even after agreeing to play the role of Dr. Peter Venkman, Bill Murray reportedly wanted to do The Razor’s Edge first. There were doubts about his commitment unless his conditions were met. And that’s when everyone thought he would turn down his role. As producer Joe Medjuck revealed to Entertainment Weekly:
“I’ve heard a rumour and truly don’t know how true this is, that Bill told Columbia he’d do Ghostbusters if they’d let him do The Razor’s Edge. So he was actually shooting The Razor’s Edge before Ghostbusters while the writing was taking place.”
As per Screen Rant, Columbia Pictures funded The Razor’s Edge—a project Murray co-wrote and starred in—to convince him for Ghostbusters. The producer continued:
“He had said he would come. And Bill and Harold go back a long way. And Bill and Danny obviously. And Ivan and Bill. They all went back a long way.”
Despite Murray’s free-spirited reputation, producer Joe Medjuck believed that he would come to do Ghostbusters. The producer trusted his commitment due to Murray’s longstanding relationships he had on set.
Why Bill Murray’s Dr. Peter Venkman Role is So Iconic
Bill Murray’s character, Peter Venkman, is an iconic one who is both cynical and sarcastic. Dr. Venkman is a Columbia University professor in parapsychology and psychology. His primary focus is flirting with his female clients rather than his interest in ghost-catching.
He was initially skeptical about paranormal phenomena. But he becomes a leader in paranormal investigations after experiencing a supernatural encounter. Though he’s sometimes lazy.
Before Murray, the role was offered to Michael Keaton, Chevy Chase, and Steve Guttenberg, but they all turned it down. Chase shared the reason why he declined the offer.
He said that the script he read wasn’t “dark and scary.” Other renowned industry actors like Tom Hanks and Robin Williams were also considered.
