Paul Feig, the writer and director who will helm an all-female Ghostbusters reboot starring Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig, says he was unaware of Sony's plans to make an accompanying all-male version, with Channing Tatum attached. The Bridesmaids filmmaker also revealed he came close to quitting the movie after receiving a torrent of "hate" on Twitter.

Paul FeigPaul Feig says he has received a torrent of hate online after announcing the all-female Ghostbusters projec

 "I almost went, 'Maybe I should just not do this, maybe this is a bad idea'," he said at the SXSW Festival.

"The people that reach out to you most vociferously are the haters. This is the downside of the internet. Let's say you get bombarded by 500 people. Your Twitter feed is going to explode and you're like, 'F**k, the whole world's against me'. But then you go, 'Wait, that's 500 people'."

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While most would agree that should the rebooted Ghostbusters movie come anywhere near Bridesmaids in terms of comedy, it'll be considered a definite success, the project has still provoked a backlash online.

"Honestly the only way I could ruin your childhood is if I got into a time machine and went back and made you an orphan," Feig told Variety.

"[The trolls] are almost constantly someone whose bio says 'proud father of two' and has some high-end job. You're raising children and yet you're bashing me about putting women in my movie?"

Feig said he was unaware of Sony's all-male project, joking, "Who knew there were so many ghosts to be busted in this world? All I know is my ladies are going to kick ass and I would not want to go into battle without them."

Feig's Ghostbusters movie is scheduled for release on July 22, 2016.

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