The upcoming female-led Ghostbusters reboot is packed with talent, but Emma Stone turned down a chance to be a part of it. In a new interview with The Wall Street Journal, she shared that the studio was interested and the script was “really funny,” but the timing just wasn’t right for her.
Stone’s cold feet came from the idea of signing on to a franchise, and with two Amazing Spider-Man movies behind her, it’s fair to say she knows what that entails. “A franchise is a big commitment — it’s a whole thing,” she explained. “I think maybe I need a minute before I dive back into that water.” Lately, she’s been too busy enjoying the freedom of making choices; the spoils of getting to the point in her career where she’s not “just doing things because you’re lucky to have gotten the job.”
Stone’s name was widely floated by fans as a perfect fit for the reboot, with even Bill Murray nominating her. She certainly would have been a great addition, but the Paul Feig-directed sci-fi comedy will make do without her. Most recently, it was announced that Chris Hemsworth had joined the cast, which already included Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones, and Kate McKinnon.
Without Ghostbusters on her to-do list, Stone’s next project is La La Land, a musical that’ll have her singing and dancing alongside Ryan Gosling, her former Gangster Squad and Crazy, Stupid, Love co-star. Directed by Damien Chazelle, it’s a story about an aspiring actress and a jazz pianist. She also stars in Irrational Man, a Woody Allen mystery drama that hits theaters on July 17, 2015.
Meanwhile, Ghosterbusters has started filming, and it’s set for release on July 22, 2016.