Kristen Wiig responds to criticism of female 'Ghostbusters'

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Kristen Wiig has responded to criticism of the forthcoming, female-led Ghostbusters movie.

The 42-year-old actress addressed the backlash in a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times. Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon will star in the reboot, causing some fans to disparage the female-centric cast on social media.

"The fact there was so much controversy because we were women was surprising to me," the star said. "Some people said some really not nice things about the fact that there were women. It didn't make me mad, it just really bummed me out. We're really honoring those movies."

Ivan Reitman directed the original Ghostbusters (1984) and its sequel, Ghostbusters II (1989), with Paul Feig to helm the new sequel. Feig previously directed Wiig and McCarthy in Bridesmaids, and defended his female stars in a March interview with Variety.

"The Internet is really funny," he said. "The first wave when you make an announcement like [female Ghostbusters] is overwhelmingly positive ... Then comes the second wave and you're like, 'Oh my God. Some of the most vile, misogynistic [expletive] I've ever seen in my life."

"Almost constantly [critics on Twitter are] someone whose bio says 'Proud father of two!'" he added. "You're raising children and yet you're bashing me about putting women in my movie? ... All I know is my ladies are going to kick ass and I would not want to go into battle without them."

The Ghostbusters reboot opens in theaters July 15, 2016. Original stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts will all make cameos, and Chris Hemsworth, Neil Casey and Andy Garcia also have roles.