Recasting Movies With YouTubers: Ghostbusters

Since we’re weekend warriors now, it only makes sense that we break from the pack and engage in some rampant free-thinking. Pretty soon YouTube and Hollywood should completely merge and we will be seeing our favorite YouTubers starring in our favorite TV shows and movies. Of course, until that point, we can only speculate on what might have been had this merger happened 10, 20 or 500 years ago. So every weekend, we take a pop culture movie and recast it with YouTubers who we think might have worked perfectly in that role.

This week: Ghostbusters

With the recent announcement of a new all-female cast, Ghostbusters has become the hot property in Hollywood. Suddenly the internet is alive with potential for all things ghost. And since NMR loves to blast the whistle on the trend train, we thought it only made sense that we rocked a potent recasting of Ghostbusters too. And to show we’re progressive and shit, we’re going to do an all-female recasting as well. Go America!

Peter Venkman

Played in the movie by: Bill Murray
Played in our version by: NerdyandQuirky

Sarcasm and self interest has to drip out of every pore on this character. You need a YouTuber who is snarky, conceited and absolutely the best thing in the movie. Nerdy & Quirky for me is an obvious choice. She has sarcasm down pat, she’s fun, female and a vlogger — arguably the most conceited profession of them all.

Ray Stantz

Played in the movie by: Dan Aykroyd
Played in our version by: Lee Newton

Lee Newton and Dan Aykroyd both have that childish and silly capacity to make cute, silly faces and be the sweetheart of their respective collaborations. I can totally see Lee Newton being told to empty her head of all thoughts and then accidentally summoning the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man. She would then play “chubby bunny” with its legs. (I changed it to “legs,” know that.)

Winston Zeddmore

Played in the movie by: Ernie Hudson
Played in our version by: Shameless Maya

Winston is the late addition to the Ghostbusters, but he’s also a blue collar joe, just looking to draw a paycheck. Played terrifically by Ernie Hudson in the original, he would be played equally terrifically by Shameless Maya in our female recast.

Egon Spengler

Played in the movie by: Harold Ramis
Played in our version by: Brittani Louise Taylor

The loveable egghead of the group who stands taller than the rest? It already seems like we’re describing our beloved Brittani Louise Taylor!

Louis Tully

Played in the movie by: Rick Moranis
Played in our version by: Miranda Sings

The obnoxious nerd who becomes the Keymaster to Dana’s Gatekeeper? No question here: Miranda Sings.

Dana

Played in the movie by: Sigourney Weaver
Played in our version by: Toby Turner

Since girls are playing the guy roles, it seems only fair that guys should play the girl roles. So who amongst the YouTube boy ranks could play a love interest that gets turned into a hellhound? Naturally, Toby Turner. Except Toby would turn into a hellhound that looked a lot more like his beloved pooch Gryphon.

Janine

Played in the movie by: Annie Potts
Played in our version by: Joey Graceffa

The shrill, snooty receptionist of the Ghostbusters who is brash but eventually falls for Louis Tully in the sequel? Naturally, Joey Graceffa would play the male equivalent of this nicely. If only Janine had her car towed …

Gozer

Played in the movie by: Slavitza Jovan
Played in our version by:  Flula

Damn I want to see Flula flipping around and blasting lightning from his fingertips while threatening to destroy the Ghostbusters. It just seems like it was meant to be that way.

Hate our choices? Think we’re way off base? Can you think of someone better? Let us know who you’d re-recast. Also share this article because hypotheticals like this are awesome.