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Are these 4 actresses the new 'Ghostbusters'? Director hints at casting

A mysterious Tuesday-afternoon tweet by director Paul Feig and a Hollywood Reporter article appear to reveal the four female leads for the third "Ghostbusters" movie.Long rumored to be in the running, "Saturday Night Live" alumna Kristen Wiig and three-time "SNL" host Melissa McCarthy are expected to join current "SNL" cast members Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones in the reboot of the paranormal mov

A mysterious Tuesday-afternoon tweet by director Paul Feig and a Hollywood Reporter article appear to reveal the four female leads for the third "Ghostbusters" movie.

Long rumored to be in the running, "Saturday Night Live" alumna Kristen Wiig and three-time "SNL" host Melissa McCarthy are expected to join current "SNL" cast members Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones in the reboot of the paranormal movie franchise.

Kristen Wiig; Leslie Jones; Melissa McCarthy; Kate McKinnon
Kristen Wiig; Leslie Jones; Melissa McCarthy; Kate McKinnonToday

One minute after Feig tweeted photos of the four actresses without any accompanying text Tuesday afternoon, The Hollywood Reporter posted an article that cites McCarthy's deal, as well as reports of ongoing negotiations with Wiig, McKinnon and Jones.

pic.twitter.com/LBtv2YXfv6

—+Paul+Feig+(@paulfeig)+January+27,+2015+


In addition to co-starring with Wiig in the box-office hit "Bridesmaids," McCarthy starred in "The Heat," which was penned by "Ghostbusters III" screenwriter and former "Parks and Recreation" scribe Katie Dippold.

With blockbuster theatrical releases in 1984 and 1989, the first two "Ghostbusters" movies featured four male leads: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson. Efforts to green-light a third movie with that cast stalled multiple times, as Murray expressed a lack of interest in the sequels that had been presented to him, and Ramis passed away in February.

Feig and Dippold signed up to reboot the franchise last year. In October, Feig not only confirmed their involvement, but also tweeted his intention to cast women in the primary roles.

It's+official.+I'm+making+a+new+Ghostbusters+&+writing+it+with+@katiedippold+&+yes,+it+will+star+hilarious+women.+That's+who+I'm+gonna+call.

—+Paul+Feig+(@paulfeig)+October+8,+2014+

McCarthy has thrice hosted "SNL," on which Wiig starred from 2005-12. McKinnon joined the "SNL" cast in 2012, with Jones following in 2014.

Follow TODAY.com writer Chris Serico on Twitter.