Sigourney Weaver

Sigourney Weaver is the actress who played Dana Barrett in Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters II and Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

Film Roles[]

In addition to her role as Dana Barrett in the Ghostbusters films, Sigourney Weaver is well known for her roles as Ellen Ripley in the Alien films.

Ghostbusters II[]

Reportedly, Columbia tried avoid paying Sigourney Weaver for the profits the first movie. She threatened litigation. Initially, Dana Barrett was in the sequel. Then in later drafts, Dana was replaced with a new character named Lane Walker. Bill Murray took part in auditions for Lane.^[1]^[2] Then Dana had a cameo appearance in a draft. Ultimately, Dana returned as the main romantic lead in the final drafts. Sigourney Weaver was offered a flat fee of $1 million to be in the movie.^[3]

Ghostbusters: The Video Game[]

According to Vivendi Executive Producer John Melchior, Weaver was never contacted to reprise her role for Ghostbusters: The Video Game despite Terminal Reality's Creative Director Drew Haworth writing she turned down an offer to reprise the role.^[4]^[5] Allegedly, she tried to come aboard upon learning Bill Murray had agreed to the project, but development was too far along by that point. ^{[citation needed]}

Ghostbusters (2016 Movie)[]

An early idea for Weaver's cameo was a crazy lady. When no one believed the Ghostbusters and they drove around the city, Weaver approached them and told them she believed in them. But either walked away and laid down on the ground or went told someone else the same line.^[6]^[7] In a draft, the woman Weaver portrays is part of a group of women who gather outside the Firehouse to give the Ghostbusters conspiratorial thumbs up for saving the city.^[8] It was reported Weaver's cameo was removed from a previous edit and then put back in the final cut. She was initially cut due to the scene not being essential to the story.^[9] Ultimately, Weaver portrayed Holtzmann's mentor Rebecca Gorin and appeared at the end of the movie.

Trivia[]

Sigourney Weaver auditioned for the role of Dana by acting like a dog.^[10]
On the first day of filming at the New York City Public Library, Sigourney Weaver visited the set to introduce herself to Bill Murray. He in turn picked her up and carried her down Fifth Avenue calling her by her real name, "Susan."^[11]
During filming of the first movie, Sigourney Weaver would go to a corner to prepare herself for a scene but Bill Murray would sneak up behind her and goof around like tickle her or lift her up.^[12]^[13]
Sigourney Weaver came up with the "game show host" line instead of the scripted "used car salesman" one.^[14]^[15]
Sigourney Weaver was sealed inside the charred Terror Dog so there was an urgency to do the sequence quickly. Ivan Reitman made the sequence seem slower by repeating shots on angles.^[16]^[17]
The scene in Armand's Restaurant with just Dana and Peter at their table was the last scene Sigourney Weaver filmed for the second movie.^[18] It would end up being deleted from the final cut.^[19]
In the "Visitation" back up story from Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #7 and Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #8, the teacher is visually based on Sigourney Weaver.
On the Regular Cover of Ghostbusters 101 #1, the map credit references Sigourney Weaver.
On page 11 of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #2, in panel 3, on Peter's locker door is an official 8x10 photograph of Sigourney Weaver in costume as Dana from the first movie.
On page 2 of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #3, Dana's outfit is based on an outfit worn by Sigourney Weaver's character Lauren Slaughter in the 1986 movie "Half Moon Street".

References[]

↑ Spelling, Ian (1989). "Bill Murray Ain't Afraid of No Ghosts!" Starlog #140, page 32. Starlog Group, Inc, USA. Bill Murray says: "She's not even in the cartoon, so I don't know if she's going to be in the film. The original idea was that she would be in it. The ideas they sold me on to say, 'OK, let's do it,' are no longer in the script. Sigourney was one of those ideas."
↑ Spelling, Ian (1989). "Bill Murray Ain't Afraid of No Ghosts!" Starlog #140, page 32. Starlog Group, Inc, USA. Bill Murray says: "They've gone all the way around trying to figure out how to make it. I had to audition with some actresses, but we all like Sigourney. The only problem with Sigourney is she's so tall. Naaah, I'm just kidding. She's tall, but she's not too tall. The problem is that you would wind up with a story that was tilted and like the Flintstone family. Sigourney and I would be this major thing and it would be hard to figure out how the Ghostbusters' dynamic would grow. The sort of story they were writing ended up not really needing the other three guys."
↑ Sanello, Frank (1994). "Heroic Stature" Starlog Platinum Edition Vol. 2, page 13. Starlog Group, Inc , USA. Line reads: "The actress was promised part of the profits from Ghostbusters (1984). When Columbia claimed the movie hadn't turned a profit, she threatened an audit and a lawsuit. To gain her services for the sequel, the studio anted up and offered her a flat fee of $1 million for Ghostbusters II."
↑ Playboy "The Untold Story of the Ghostbusters Video Game that was Almost a Masterpiece" 7/13/16
↑ IGN Blogs "The Storyline and Characters" 5/12/09
↑ Cineblog "Ghostbusters, Paul Feig in Rome: a report from the press" (retrieved through Google Translate) 6/27/16 Line reads: "Weaver was immediately enthusiastic, from day one. We had thought about a different role for her, but we realized that it was too little of substance, so we changed it. He loved the idea of doing the mentor of one of the four protagonists, because excited by the idea to fake a German accent."
↑ Yahoo! Movies "Screenwriter Katie Dippold on How 'Ghostbusters' Changed and Why 'The Heat 2' Isn't Happening" 7/20/16 Katie Dippold says: "Sigourney was probably the one that was most written for someone. And that one was the hardest one to figure out… God, I pitched on so many different versions of that cameo. One I wanted to do, but it was real hit or miss, when no one was believing them, as they're driving in the city, and then this woman walks up, Sigourney Weaver, and she's just like, "Hey, you know what? I don't care what anyone says, I think what you guys are doing is great, and I absolutely believe everything you're saying." And then they're like, "Oh my God, thank you so much." And there there's a couple options. One is she just walks away and then just lays down on the ground like a crazy person. Another one was she says that same thing to someone else on the street. Because she's just a crazy person who just says this to everyone."
↑ ebay radautographs Original Production Used Ghostbusters (2016) Side Script Melissa McCarthy" retrieved 8/9/2023 Line reads: "She gestures over to several other women, who give them secret conspiratorial thumbs up. Erin smiles. You're welcome. Then she holds a finger to her lips. Shh..."
↑ Daily News "Sigourney Weaver returns from the dead in Ghostbusters" 5/12/16
↑ Ivan Reitman (2005). Ghostbusters- Commentary (2005) (DVD ts. 17:18-17:37). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Ivan Reitman says: "And um actually agreed to audition. She came into my office and not like I'm giving anything away saying she turned into a dog at some point in this film and uh I remember her getting up on the couch and actually auditioning like a dog and I knew at that point she had to be in the film. "
↑ Sigourney Weaver (2009). Ghostbusters- Slimer Mode (2009) (Blu-Ray ts. 24:10-24:34). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Sigourney Weaver says: "I was, you know, a huge fan of Bill Murray's, actually, but I met him the first day they shot at the public library, and there Bill was in a suit and stuff and I kind of went over and introduced myself. And before I knew it, he had picked me up and was carrying me down 5th Avenue calling me Susan, which is my real name."
↑ Joe Medjuck (1999). Ghostbusters- Commentary (1999) (DVD ts. 27:04-27:13). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Joe Medjuck says: "And she would go off into a corner to prepare herself for a scene, and Bill would sneak up behind her and tickle her or something. Bill would like to be in mid-sentence before he stepped onto the set and..."
↑ Ivan Reitman (1999). Ghostbusters- Commentary (1999) (DVD ts. 27:14-27:17). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Ivan Reitman says: "Or lift her up. He likes lifting women."
↑ Ivan Reitman (1999). Ghostbusters- Commentary (1999) (DVD ts. 28:05-28:07). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Ivan Reitman says: "Actually, that was hers. That was Sigourney's line."
↑ Harold Ramis (1999). Ghostbusters- Commentary (1999) (DVD ts. 28:09-28:12). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Harold Ramis says: "We had a line, "You're more like a used car salesman" in the script. She said, "You're more like a game-show host.""
↑ Harold Ramis (1999). Ghostbusters- Commentary (1999) (DVD ts. 01:36:21-01:36:27). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Harold Ramis says: "I remember there was a little bit of hurry up to this 'cause she was actually sealed inside that thing."
↑ Ivan Reitman (1999). Ghostbusters- Commentary (1999) (DVD ts. 01:36:30-01:36:39). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Ivan Reitman says: "And there's just so much that this could take. Although, in the cutting, actually, I increased how long it took to get her out by repeating shots on angles."
↑ Goldstein, Patrick (June 1, 1989). "Return of the Money Making Slime" Rolling Stone #553, page 54. Wenner Media LLC, New York City, New York, USA. Line reads: "It's the last week of a thirteen-week shoot, and Reitman is eager to get this scene in the can. He calls for quiet. Suddenly Murray stands and waves his napkin in the air. "Correct me if I'm wrong," he says, "but isn't this double Academy Award nominee Sigourney Weaver's last shot of the movie?" The crew cackles with glee. Throughout the day, whenever work has been halted by technical delays, Murray has lectured the crew about "keeping our double nominee waiting," a reference to Weaver's being up for Oscars for both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress (for Gorillas in the Mist and Working Girl; she would win neither)."
↑ Goldstein, Patrick (June 1, 1989). "Return of the Money Making Slime" Rolling Stone #553, page 54. Wenner Media LLC, New York City, New York, USA. Line reads: "Finally, Reitman calls for action. The scene is Dr. Venkman's last chance at romance. As the camera rolls, the doctor coos, "So ... making any New Year's resolutions?" His love object tosses back her hair and coolly replies, "I want to stop getting involved with men who aren't any good for me." Venkman is crushed. "Does that start exactly at midnight tomorrow?" he asks. "Or could you maybe hold off for a few days?" Reitman beams. "It's a take." The crew cheers. Weaver stands up, merrily spins around and takes a bow. Murray is delighted too."

Gallery[]

Photos[]

Behind the Scenes[]

Comics[]

[1] Spelling, Ian (1989). "Bill Murray Ain't Afraid of No Ghosts!" Starlog #140, page 32. Starlog Group, Inc, USA. Bill Murray says: "She's not even in the cartoon, so I don't know if she's going to be in the film. The original idea was that she would be in it. The ideas they sold me on to say, 'OK, let's do it,' are no longer in the script. Sigourney was one of those ideas."

[2] Spelling, Ian (1989). "Bill Murray Ain't Afraid of No Ghosts!" Starlog #140, page 32. Starlog Group, Inc, USA. Bill Murray says: "They've gone all the way around trying to figure out how to make it. I had to audition with some actresses, but we all like Sigourney. The only problem with Sigourney is she's so tall. Naaah, I'm just kidding. She's tall, but she's not too tall. The problem is that you would wind up with a story that was tilted and like the Flintstone family. Sigourney and I would be this major thing and it would be hard to figure out how the Ghostbusters' dynamic would grow. The sort of story they were writing ended up not really needing the other three guys."

[3] Sanello, Frank (1994). "Heroic Stature" Starlog Platinum Edition Vol. 2, page 13. Starlog Group, Inc , USA. Line reads: "The actress was promised part of the profits from Ghostbusters (1984). When Columbia claimed the movie hadn't turned a profit, she threatened an audit and a lawsuit. To gain her services for the sequel, the studio anted up and offered her a flat fee of $1 million for Ghostbusters II."

[4] Playboy "The Untold Story of the Ghostbusters Video Game that was Almost a Masterpiece" 7/13/16

[5] IGN Blogs "The Storyline and Characters" 5/12/09

[6] Cineblog "Ghostbusters, Paul Feig in Rome: a report from the press" (retrieved through Google Translate) 6/27/16 Line reads: "Weaver was immediately enthusiastic, from day one. We had thought about a different role for her, but we realized that it was too little of substance, so we changed it. He loved the idea of doing the mentor of one of the four protagonists, because excited by the idea to fake a German accent."

[7] Yahoo! Movies "Screenwriter Katie Dippold on How 'Ghostbusters' Changed and Why 'The Heat 2' Isn't Happening" 7/20/16 Katie Dippold says: "Sigourney was probably the one that was most written for someone. And that one was the hardest one to figure out… God, I pitched on so many different versions of that cameo. One I wanted to do, but it was real hit or miss, when no one was believing them, as they're driving in the city, and then this woman walks up, Sigourney Weaver, and she's just like, "Hey, you know what? I don't care what anyone says, I think what you guys are doing is great, and I absolutely believe everything you're saying." And then they're like, "Oh my God, thank you so much." And there there's a couple options. One is she just walks away and then just lays down on the ground like a crazy person. Another one was she says that same thing to someone else on the street. Because she's just a crazy person who just says this to everyone."

[8] y radautographs Original Production Used Ghostbusters (2016) Side Script Melissa McCarthy" retrieved 8/9/2023 Line reads: "She gestures over to several other women, who give them secret conspiratorial thumbs up. Erin smiles. You're welcome. Then she holds a finger to her lips. Shh..."

[9] Daily News "Sigourney Weaver returns from the dead in Ghostbusters" 5/12/16

[10] Ivan Reitman (2005). Ghostbusters- Commentary (2005) (DVD ts. 17:18-17:37). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Ivan Reitman says: "And um actually agreed to audition. She came into my office and not like I'm giving anything away saying she turned into a dog at some point in this film and uh I remember her getting up on the couch and actually auditioning like a dog and I knew at that point she had to be in the film. "

[11] Sigourney Weaver (2009). Ghostbusters- Slimer Mode (2009) (Blu-Ray ts. 24:10-24:34). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Sigourney Weaver says: "I was, you know, a huge fan of Bill Murray's, actually, but I met him the first day they shot at the public library, and there Bill was in a suit and stuff and I kind of went over and introduced myself. And before I knew it, he had picked me up and was carrying me down 5th Avenue calling me Susan, which is my real name."

[12] Joe Medjuck (1999). Ghostbusters- Commentary (1999) (DVD ts. 27:04-27:13). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Joe Medjuck says: "And she would go off into a corner to prepare herself for a scene, and Bill would sneak up behind her and tickle her or something. Bill would like to be in mid-sentence before he stepped onto the set and..."

[13] Ivan Reitman (1999). Ghostbusters- Commentary (1999) (DVD ts. 27:14-27:17). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Ivan Reitman says: "Or lift her up. He likes lifting women."

[14] Ivan Reitman (1999). Ghostbusters- Commentary (1999) (DVD ts. 28:05-28:07). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Ivan Reitman says: "Actually, that was hers. That was Sigourney's line."

[15] Harold Ramis (1999). Ghostbusters- Commentary (1999) (DVD ts. 28:09-28:12). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Harold Ramis says: "We had a line, "You're more like a used car salesman" in the script. She said, "You're more like a game-show host.""

[16] Harold Ramis (1999). Ghostbusters- Commentary (1999) (DVD ts. 01:36:21-01:36:27). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Harold Ramis says: "I remember there was a little bit of hurry up to this 'cause she was actually sealed inside that thing."

[17] Ivan Reitman (1999). Ghostbusters- Commentary (1999) (DVD ts. 01:36:30-01:36:39). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Ivan Reitman says: "And there's just so much that this could take. Although, in the cutting, actually, I increased how long it took to get her out by repeating shots on angles."

[18] Goldstein, Patrick (June 1, 1989). "Return of the Money Making Slime" Rolling Stone #553, page 54. Wenner Media LLC, New York City, New York, USA. Line reads: "It's the last week of a thirteen-week shoot, and Reitman is eager to get this scene in the can. He calls for quiet. Suddenly Murray stands and waves his napkin in the air. "Correct me if I'm wrong," he says, "but isn't this double Academy Award nominee Sigourney Weaver's last shot of the movie?" The crew cackles with glee. Throughout the day, whenever work has been halted by technical delays, Murray has lectured the crew about "keeping our double nominee waiting," a reference to Weaver's being up for Oscars for both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress (for Gorillas in the Mist and Working Girl; she would win neither)."

[19] Goldstein, Patrick (June 1, 1989). "Return of the Money Making Slime" Rolling Stone #553, page 54. Wenner Media LLC, New York City, New York, USA. Line reads: "Finally, Reitman calls for action. The scene is Dr. Venkman's last chance at romance. As the camera rolls, the doctor coos, "So ... making any New Year's resolutions?" His love object tosses back her hair and coolly replies, "I want to stop getting involved with men who aren't any good for me." Venkman is crushed. "Does that start exactly at midnight tomorrow?" he asks. "Or could you maybe hold off for a few days?" Reitman beams. "It's a take." The crew cheers. Weaver stands up, merrily spins around and takes a bow. Murray is delighted too."

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