Some cameos make you laugh. These make you say, “Why were they even in this?”

I'm an Editorial Director at BuzzFeed who covers the internet’s funniest photos and jokes, weird human history, movie facts, and more.

The real-world explanation? Aykroyd loved the franchise and basically asked Spielberg for any part he could get. Still, as cameos go, it’s almost aggressively unnecessary. If the role could be played by anyone, what exactly is the point? 

According to Charlize Theron, McGregor happened to be filming nearby, she knew him, and she asked if he wanted to stop by. Which is a perfectly charming behind-the-scenes story — and also exactly why the cameo feels so random and tossed off.