Ghostbusters 3

Columbia Pictures hired the exec producers from The Office to write a Ghostbusters reunion movie, Ghostbusters III. In a new interview, Dan Aykroyd confirms that he, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, Harold Ramis, and even Sigourney Weaver are on board for the third movie.

According to Aykroyd, production might even begin as early as this winter.

As for the film's plot, it'll deal with the aging, original Ghostbusters getting ready to retire and pass on the responsibilities of protecting NYC over to a new crew, with maybe a female or two this time helping to capture the ghosts.Rumor has it Bill Murray said the only way he would film a new Ghostbusters movie would be if his character dies off. So Bill will be appearing as a ghost throughout the majority of the film.

Bill Murray has been upping his dramatic acting resume in recent years, but that doesn't mean he isn't open to returning to a classic comedic role in Ghostbusters 3.

Sci-fi Wire got some info about the prospects of Dr. Peter Venkman coming back to the big screen during a New York press conference with Murray. The former Ghostbuster said, "The third one could happen." He also said he heard about Columbia Pictures' decision to get two writers from The Office, Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, to pen the third Ghostbusters script.

"There's two fellows from The Office that are writing a script, but I've yet to see it," Murray said. "And I'm more involved, you know, trying to get the dessert we ordered at lunch than I am with the new Ghostbusters sequel. But it's possible. It's a great idea that they hired these two guys to do it, because I think it could be a fresh look at it. And it could be funny."

Murray's interest in a third Ghostbusters film is good news for a franchise that took a bit of a hit, both financially and critically, with Ghostbusters 2 in 1989. The film lacked the combo of supernatural horror and comedy that the original was chock full of. Murray wasn't a fan of the second chapter.

"We did a sequel and it was sort of rather unsatisfying for me, because the first one to me was the goods. It was the real thing. And the sequel, you know, it was a few years later. There was an idea pitched. And it was like, well, they got us all together in a room. We just laughed for a couple of hours. And then they said, "What if we did another one? Here's an idea."

Murray continued, "So they had this idea, but it didn't turn out to be the idea when I arrived on the set. They'd written a whole different movie than the one [initially discussed]. And the special-effects guys got it and got their hands on it. And it was just not the same movie. There were a few great scenes in it, but it wasn't the same movie. So there's never been an interest in a third Ghostbusters, because the second one was disappointing for me, anyway."

Interview credit

As a sign of things to come, on October 17, 2010, actor Bill Murray showed up at the Spike TV Scream Awards dressed in full Ghostbusters garb, complete with proton pack!

This was a moment Ghostbusters fans thought we would likely never see again. Now if they would just publish a release date for Ghostbusters 3...

According to BloodyDisgusting.com, actress Sigourney Weaver said she has received a phone call from Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman regarding a new Ghostbusters sequel.

Weaver confirmed that Oscar, her son in the series, has grown up and become a Ghostbuster. She concluded by saying, "I would be surprised if we didn't do it."

Weaver also recently revealed in a television interview that fellow Ghostbuster Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) will be appearing as a ghost in the film. To see the full interview with Sigourney Weaver, click here.

Plenty of news has already been released about the Ghostbusters 3 project. Enough so, in fact, that many of us are salivating at the very thought of a Ghostbusters sequel. On the other hand, we've had naysayers including Bill Murray (who played Peter Venkman) who, at one point, has publicly stated that a third film in the series is not going to happen.

It appears his colleague, Dan Aykroyd, has a very different perspective on the subject.

Things became heated when Murray found out that "Year One" writers Gene Stupnitsky and and Lee Eisenberg were penning the script for Ghostbusters 3. Year One was a flop and did not do well at all. However, these are also the guys that produce "The Office" so there's obviously some serious talent here. Everyone gets one screw up, right?

Vanity Affair reports that Dan Aykroyd was recently interviewed on the status of the Ghostbusters 3 film and whether Bill Murray's words were true.

"I think [Bill Murray] was concerned that the writing on Ghostbusters 3 by these guys would not be up to standard, but I can tell you firsthand, I'm working on the script now and those two-Stupnitsky and Eisenberg, [writer/producers of The Office]-wrote Bill the comic role of a lifetime, and the new Ghostbusters and the old are all well represented in it. We have a strong first draft that Harold [Ramis] and I will take back, and I'm very excited about working on it."

So it seems as if the story we have all heard where the old Ghostbusters crew passes the torch to a younger group of 'busters is the one that will take place. It appears that Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd have taken the first script and are now personally working on revisions. This can only be a good thing.

Filming on the long-awaited sequel Ghostbusters 3 looks set to begin in May 2011, according to industry insiders, after original cast member and writer Dan Ackroyd took charge of a derided script.

The project has suffered a series of delays, including rejected scripts, star tantrums and lack of studio interest, since 2009.

Production Weekly, the trade magazine for the film and television industries, recently tweeted: "Hearing that @SonyPictures is planning to put [original director] Ivan Reitman's Ghostbusters 3 into production in May 2011." Ivan Reitman is on board to direct.

According to BloodyDisgusting.com, Sony Pictures has begun the casting process for Ghostbusters 3. Apparently they've been in talks with Bill Hader ("SNL"), Will Forte ("SNL") and Anna Faris (Scary Movie series).

During an interview with WGN Radio Chicago, Dan Aykroyd confirmed that casting is currently underway and that both Hader and Faris are "strong possibilities." Aykroyd mentioned that Bill Murray and Sigourney Weaver are definitely returning and that Eliza Dushku ("Dollhouse") is still in talks as well.

At this point, the third draft of the script has been turned in and the plan is to begin filming in May of 2011. Ghostbusters 3 is tentatively set to hit theaters on Christmas of 2012.

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According to the Chicago Sun Times, Dan Aykroyd is quoted as saying "It picks up in present day," says the "Yogi Bear" star. "No ghosts are left because we took care of them and stored them all. We took all the ghosts out of the hotels and the streets. But then an event happens and something comes through from the next dimension."

Young turk actors will be along for the ride. "We're passing it on to a younger generation," Aykroyd says. "The original Ghostbusters are older now. Our eyesight is fading. Our knees are going. We can't shoulder those big packs on our back anymore."

Progress is being made. "We have a script now," says Aykroyd, one of the writers. "We've got the pieces on the floor, and now we have to bolt them together and put on wheels."

To read the full interview, click here.

Canadian producer and director Ivan Reitman says a solid script has been hammered out for Ghostbusters 3 and is close to becoming a reality.

Reitman, who was behind the first two films starring Dan Ackroyd, Ernie Hudson, Rick Moranis, Harold Ramis and Bill Murray, says "a very good script" for the third film has been sent to Murray, reportedly a hold-out on a sequel.

To read the full article, go here.
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According to Ghostbusters franchise director Ivan Reitman, as of April 2, 2011 Bill Murray has finally given the green light to the new Ghostbusters 3 script! Murray will star alongside costars Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson as he reprises his role of Dr. Peter Venkman.

Even better, Murray has signed on for Ghostbusters 3 and Ghostbusters 4. The two sequels will be filmed back to back and are rumored to appear in theaters Christmas of 2012 and 2013.

The two films will be shot back to back and are rumored to be hitting the big screen Christmas 2012 and 2013. Murray was the only thing holding back this clamored-for sequel. Fanboys and girls are sure to be rabid over this huge announcement.

During a recent appearance on the Dennis Miller Show, Dan Aykroyd, star and co-creator of the first two Ghostbusters films, says the plan is to film the third installment next year, with or without the involvement of the franchise's former lead star, Bill Murray and Sony.

"Yes, we will be doing the movie and hopefully with Mr. Murray," Aykroyd explained to Dennis Miller. "We have an excellent script. What we have to remember is that Ghostbusters is bigger than any one component, although Billy was absolutely the lead and contributive to it in a massive way, as was the director and Harold [Ramis], myself, and Sigourney [Weaver]. The concept is much larger than any individual role."

Aykroyd went on to reveal that the long-anticipated sequel will introduce a new generation of supernatural exterminators: "The promise of Ghostbusters 3 is that we get to hand the equipment and the franchise down to new blood."

While casting details were not revealed, Aykroyd did offer a few glimpses into the script. "My character, Ray, is now blind in one eye and can't drive the Cadillac," he says. "He's got a bad knee and can't carry the packs. Egon is too large to get into the harness. We need young blood and that's the promise. We're gonna hand it to a new generation."

While fans are certainly clamoring for a long overdue Ghostbusters sequel, hopefully Aykroyd can convince his former co-star Bill Murray to join in the fun for one more go round.

According to a February 13, 2012 article on EmpireOnline.com, the absurdly charming one-time Ghostbuster and Blues Brother Dan Aykroyd was in the Empire office for a recent webchat. In addition to shaking the hand of everyone in the building (including a bewildered delivery man) and being an all-round hero, he also answered a few questions.

As you might have guessed, a couple were about the much-talked-about Ghostbusters 3, and here are some interesting tidbits about just that.

[Talking about the reclusive Rick Moranis] "If we can get the script to Ghostbusters 3 right, then it would definitely have Moranis as a major component. None of us would want to do the movie without having him as a participant."

Even more intriguingly, Aykroyd hinted that Bill Murray may not return as Peter Venkman, and that the character could be played by a different actor, a la Jack Ryan.

[Talking about Ghostbusters 3 generally] "The script must be perfect. We cannot release a film that is any less than that. We have more work to do."

Vague, granted, but there you go. As for the internet rumour that Murray recently shredded a Ghostbusters 3 script and sent it back with a note that said, "No-one wants to pay money to see fat, old men chasing ghosts", Aykroyd denied it with vigour.

"Bill Murray is not capable of such behaviour. This is simply something that would not be in his nature. We have a deep, private personal relationship that transcends business. We communicate frequently and his position on the involvement in Ghostbusters 3 has been made clear and I respect that. But Bill has too much positive estimation of my writing skills to shred the work."

So that's that - if Bill Murray has a shredder, he's reserving use of it for bank statements and the like.

Article Credit

WGNtv.com conducted a recent interview with the infamous Bill Murray, primarily discussing his favorite baseball team, the Chicago Cubs. Naturally the topic of future movies arose and inevitably Murray was asked about the possibility of Ghostbusters 3. Murray responded by stating, "Well, it's a possibility." Shortly after uttering those words, he swiftyly changed the subject and talked about his other upcoming film projects. Considering that a few months ago Dan Aykroyd publicly stated that Murray had basically said no to the project, this is very encouraging news for Ghostbusters fans.

To view the interview with Bill Murray on WGNtv.com and see his comments first hand, click here.