The director of Bridesmaids has confirmed he is making a long-awaited follow-up to the hugely successful Ghostbusters films.

Paul Feig confirmed his involvement on Twitter and revealed he is working with Parks And Recreation writer Katie Dippold on a script.

Feig wrote: "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."

The Freaks And Geeks creator had been the front-runner to take the helm since Ivan Reitman - who directed the first two Ghostbusters films - decided in March that he would not be involved.

Feig's tweet appeared to confirm rumours that the film will feature an all-female lead cast.

It is unclear whether stars of the 1984 film - which earned almost $300m (£186m) at the box office - will be involved in the new movie.

Ghostbusters starred Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis as three unemployed parapsychology professors who start a ghost removal service and end up having to save the world from an ancient god.

Murray, who played Dr Peter Venkman in the original, last month gave his backing to the idea of an all-female update to the series.

He told the Toronto Star: "I'm fine with it. I would go to that movie, and they'd probably have better outfits too."

Murray tipped Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig - who worked with director Feig on Bridesmaids - The Amazing Spider-Man's Emma Stone and Linda Cardellini from Freaks And Geeks as possible stars.

Aykroyd, who starred as Dr Raymond Stantz in Ghostbusters and is expected to be a producer on the new film, has spoken of his plans to create a "Ghostbusters Universe" that could see the franchise last for the next 20 years.

Ramis - Dr Egon Spengler in the supernatural comedy - died in February at the age of 69.