Bridesmaids film-maker Paul Feig has described criticism he received after signing on to direct a new version of Ghostbusters featuring “funny women” as “vile, misogynistic shit”.

Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter at the SXSW festival, Feig said he was taken aback by the vitriol aimed at him on social media in the wake of the announcement that Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig would join Saturday Night Live regulars Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones in the remake.

“The internet is really funny – I love it, but I hate it at the same time,” said Feig, who screened his new comedy, Spy, at the festival. “The first wave when you make an announcement like that is overwhelmingly positive. Everyone’s so happy, and you’re like, ‘This is great.’ Then comes the second wave, and you’re like, ‘Oh my God.’ [It’s] some of the most vile, misogynistic shit I’ve ever seen in my life.”

He added: “The biggest thing I’ve heard for the last four months is, ‘Thanks for ruining my childhood.’ It’s going to be on my tombstone when I die … Honestly, the only way I could ruin your childhood is if I got into a time machine and went back and made you an orphan.”

Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale, Paul Feig, Melissa McCarthy and Jason Statham at the premiere of Spy. Photograph: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for SXSW

Feig also described his surprise at who his online trolls are. “I figure it’s some wacked-out teenager. But almost constantly it’s someone whose bio says ‘proud father of two!’ And has some high-end job. You’re raising children, and yet you’re bashing me about putting women in my movie?”

The American film-maker said he knew very little about a second new Ghostbusters movie, which Sony is reportedly developing. Magic Mike’s Channing Tatum is said to be eyeing the lead role in a version featuring an all-male team, and there is speculation the studio is planning an entire “cinematic universe” centred on the franchise.

“Who knew there were so many ghosts to be busted in the world?” Feig said. “All I know is my ladies are going to kick ass, and I would not want to go into battle without them.”