I don't buy that Ghostbusters success will hinge on the gender of the lead actors - the leads in the new film have a lot to live up to in Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray.
The trick is the controversy. I know a lot of people who absolutely love Total Recall. There was a remake a few years ago, and it was bad (like everyone expected). People saw it or didnt, and nobody complained about it "ruining their childhood" or publicly boycotted it. I can't help but feel the different reaction is due to the gender recasting.
Similar statements was made when Star Wars: The Phantom Menace came out, and it had nothing to do with gender. How does Jar Jar Binks fit with your theory?
Nobody complained about it doing that prior to its release. It was hotly anticipated. Lineups around blocks were lined up. when it turned out to be bad, decades of anticipation turned to outrage. That was all after it came out.
You mean, the trailer for ghostbuster turned decades of anticipation to outrage, but in the case of star wars, the trailer was fine but the actually movie wasn't?