Leslie Jones' 'Ghostbusters' role was written for Melissa McCarthy | USA Today 

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Leslie Jones\' \'Ghostbusters\' role was written for Melissa McCarthy

“I wanted to unleash Leslie on the public in the same way we unleashed Melissa on the public in Bridesmaids, with a very showy role.”

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Leslie Jones' 'Ghostbusters' role was written for Melissa McCarthy

Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY 12:59 p.m. EST March 11, 2016

 hit the Internet a week ago to plenty of very strong reactions, in a lot of different directions.

comedian Leslie Jones\' character, and the specific fact that she appears to be playing a stereotypical sassy black friend in the foursome, in addition to the fact that her character is a MTA worker in New York while the three white co-stars, Melissa McCathy, Kristin Wiig and Kate McKinnon, are scientists. Jones herself responded to the backlash, even threatening to quit Twitter over the whole affair.

Of note to this conversation, however, is an interview that was conducted with Feig before the hubub reached a peak in 

 magazine. In the interview he said that the part Jones is playing, Patty Tolan, was originally written for Melissa McCarthy.

"We had written the role with Melissa in mind, but then I thought I’ve seen Melissa play a brash, larger-than-life character. She’s done it in my movies before!” he said. He\'s right, having directed the actress as big, brash characters in both 

 role earned McCarthy an Oscar nomination and made her a household name. Feig said he wanted to do the same thing for Jones.

“She’s one of my favorite people on the planet. I don’t normally like comedy that’s big and loud, but she is able to pull that off in a way that feels real, and it’s her,” he said. “I wanted to unleash Leslie on the public in the same way we unleashed Melissa on the public in

, with a very showy role.” In the end Patty is played by Jones, while McCarthy plays a more reserved role as scientist Abby Yates.

Earlier this week Feig also spoke out on Jones\' behalf, asking her not to quit Twitter.

"Don\'t leave us," he tweeted at her. "You are a goddess & one of the warmest funniest forces of nature I know. (Expletive) the haters."

He added, "And haters, attack me all you want but when you attack and insult my cast, you\'ve crossed the line. Grow up and leave my cast alone."

"Ghostbusters" returns 30 years later with an all female crew for this America's beloved, supernatural comedy. VPC

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