5/22/13

Aykroyd on Ghostbusters 3 (3D?) and Casting: We Need Four, Five to Six New Ghostbusters


Asked in a recent interview by Digital Spy if there are any comic actors that he's looking at for Ghostbusters 3, Dan Aykroyd responded... "that's gonna be tough. We're gonna need four, five to six new Ghostbusters." SIX! Interesting.... he also touched upon new Ghostbusting equipment and 3D in Ghostbusters 3.

Aykroyd: "When you've got all the streams and all the hardware that we're gonna be building... the new stuff is really neat, the new equipment is... wow... so much fun. I mean, even think wireless and think of what they'd be doing if they were building new equipment today, building upon the old proton packs and the throwers and all that... what that looks like today, what... 20 some-odd years later or 30 years later... it is going to be really cool."

Aykroyd on the likelyhood of Ghostbusters 3 in 3D? Sounds like a sure thing. "It'll be a mix, some 3D and some 2D" (We assume that the film will release in both formats) "I don't think it'll be exclusively 3D because it can work without it."

Not in their video interview but included in the article is this quote on the 3D:  "With regards to 3D - the new stuff will totally lend itself to 3D. Picture slime coming out and splashing people in the audience. That's where we're heading and it's going to be very visual and exciting in all its forms.

5/21/13

Aykroyd in Italy: Etan Cohen is Still the Guy Writing "Ghostbusters 3"


The Ghostbusters 3 Blog's trusted tip-man Davide Passaia had a chance to quickly meet with Dan Aykroyd this week at a Crystal Head signing. While Aykroyd declined to give away anything about the film, he did confirm that Etan Cohen is still on the script, which wasn't clear at this point in development.


Q: Mr. Aykroyd, what about GB3?
A: Oh, I can't talk about that...Sony will kill me if I say anything. When we'll be doing the movie I'll invite all the Italian GBs on the set and to the House of Blues for a dinner together!

Q: Is Etan Cohen still your writer on GB3?
A:Oh yes, for sure...

5/20/13

Aykroyd: We Need Four New Ghostbusters

Pupin Physics Lab at Columbia University

Talking to Larry King, known among many things for his Ghostbusters cameo, Dan Aykroyd rephrased some familiar information about "Ghostbusters 3" today.

 On Murray: “He’s a good friend... I love him, but he just doesn't want to reprise the role. However there will be a hole for him. If Billy wants to walk in the door and be in the movie, we'll find a place.”

 On Plot: It’s based upon new research that’s being done in particle physics by the young men and women at Columbia University. Basically there’s research being done that…I can say that the world or our dimension that we live in, our four planes of existence, length, height, width and time, become threatened by some of the research that is being done. And Ghostbusters, new Ghostbusters, have to come and some the problem.”

 On a new Larry King cameo: "Of course, we're going to be doing you in your new format as you comment on what's happening in Manhattan up there at Morningside Heights. It's going to be quite a spectacular scene once the stuff starts to break."

 When asked if the cast was already in place for new Ghostbusters, Aykroyd made it sound like casting had not taken place yet.

5/13/13

Of Ghostbusters 3, CERN and Anti-Matter.

More particle physics and upcoming Ghostbusters 3 meetings from the Aykroyd camp. UK publication Shortlist talked to Mr. Stanz himself recently and received some new twists on the same tales:

“I’m going to be meeting Ivan [Reitman] on June 7 in Cleveland, which is exciting as it’s been on and off for a few years but we’re really looking at a solid script now, and I can say that it will be focused on the new generation - think the latest Star Trek. We’re very interested in the anti-matter research that’s going on in the world. I look at CERN and think it could be a breeding ground for the paranormal."



4/23/13

Aykroyd Gives an Ultimatum Extension to Sony



In an interview with ABC News, Dan Aykroyd addressed his pending ultimatum with Sony on a green-light for "Ghostbusters 3", saying that he has been "re-encouraged, reinvigorated" by the pages he has seen. He seemed to back down on his December statement regarding his shipping off to Australia, dropping that he won't be in the country until next fall.

 Aykroyd went on to share his skepticism that Murray had truly given previous Ghostbusters 3 drafts a read and placed a heavy focus on the exploration of Columbia students studying particle physics in the next film, claiming that the study of molecules such as the Boson (also known as the God Particle) could lead to something really "horrible" coming through.

 Also of note, when asked to name some favorite, recent SNL bits and players, he called out Hader, Wiig, Sudeikis and Armisen. Wouldn't they make a nice new team of Ghostbusters, if not a hair older than the average grad student?

3/17/13

Aykroyd Shares Some Character Deets on the Next Gen of GBs

Photo by Dominique Binoist
The Ottawa Citizen spoke with Dan Aykroyd and got some tidbits of interest out of the guy. Ghostbusters III has a new timeline for development. Potential pre-production in the fall, hopes to shoot next year. That has changed every six months for the past 4 years, so no crazy news to report there.

The latest on Murray, no movement on securing him but as always, there's always a place for him in the story should he want to jump on board. Isn't that nice?

Then we got some cool new stuff.  Aykroyd: "Right now we want to focus on the new generation of Ghostbusters, the new students at Columbia (University) studying particle physics, that’s where we’re going to go with the story.”

The coolest (ok the only cool) parts of Aykroyd's early drafts for Ghostbusters 3 (you can read some here) were the "glueball" particle experiments he and Egon were running. Just this week the Boson Higgs "god particle" has been making news and the ideas are very contemporary and Ghostbusters at the same time. Let's not forget that Aykroyd included a proton pack blast called the "Boson Dart" in the Ghostbusters Video Game.

That last script played with the idea of nixing a containment unit and instead bending particles to send ghosts back into the dimension they came from. Cool movie fodder, ripe for surprises, if they go for it.

3/8/13

British GQ: Murray Said to be Finally Contemplating GB3 with Cohen Script

The most interesting thing about British GQ's April Comedy Issue interview with Ghostbusters 3 re-scribe Etan Cohen may not be in the interview. The magazine essentially answers the question we asked just a few days ago - will Bill Murray reconsider the script for Ghostbusters 3 if he reads this new draft? According to the magazine "Murray is said to be finally contemplating the project now that Cohen is on board." Who said that? Not anyone we've heard from until a day or two ago and this magazine is already in print. A solid second source to confirm that this rumor is strong.

Meanwhile, Cohen talked about the pressure that comes with a chore like "Ghostbusters 3..."

"I'm trying to embrace the pressure, you shouldn't put yourself in this situation otherwise  I do take it very seriously though. You want to do something you feel is great, especially for a movie that so many people grew up on. The challenge always is being able to forget the noise and put your blinders on, and just do something fun. You have to let go of the terror that you have had your last good idea. It's worked out before, so it's going to work out this time."

GQ's April Comedy issues is on stands now in Europe. Thanks as always to Davide Passaia for another incredible tip and picking up the magazine!

3/5/13

Is the Murricane Changing Course?


The Good: Dan Aykroyd is still reviewing Etan Cohen (Men in Black III) script drafts for "Ghosbusters 3". He will be taking a look at some pages "in the next couple of weeks" according to his recent interview with "George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight". GB3 is not dead as we pass 3 months since Dan Aykroyd laid down an ultimatum over his involvement. One month to go if he was serious about that.

The Confusing: Dan says he is trying to get Bill Murray to call him back, dropping this unexpected bit: "Billy's expressed an interest in perhaps looking at something." He doubles back on that quote plenty though, so Aykroyd isn't sure of anything. "I really don't know what I'm gonna see there" Dan told Stroumboulopoulos, "it's hard to say with Murray." Aykroyd muses further that the "Murricane" is always unpredictable and goes on to recant Murray's status as someone who has already done the character a few times and understandably is on to new, prestigious roles.

This is interesting because in an interview with "The Sunday Times" in January, Murray referred to a script from a couple of years ago as the one he was not so keen on. That would have been the Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupinsky draft in 2010 or 2011. Since that version is being scrapped or being majorly overhauled, from what it seems here, Aykroyd may be keen on having Murray look at Etan Cohen's new script for a second opinion.

Do you think the Murricane will be downgraded to a Tropibill Storm? Watch the interview for yourself:



GB Props to Davide Passaia for yet another timely tip!

2/27/13

Ghostbusters 3 Rumors Reanimated by Bloody Disgusting

Image: http://www.kip3d.net/

"Ghostbusters 3" has been bordering on death since Dan Aykroyd laid down a 4 month countdown in December, warning that his involvement will be no longer on the table if  a green-light decision on the project could not be made.

In our first bit of Ghostbusters news since that ultimatum was set forth, Bloody Disgusting has a nameless source that claims an animated sequel might still be on the table for consideration. Meanwhile ComingSoon.net was quick to check-in with the studio for a fast dismissal of a Pixar-like project. CS states that Sony folks aren't looking into animation and are still trying for a live-action film.

This is not the first time we've heard talk of an animated or CGI GB3 --flash back to April 4th, 2007-- when Harold Ramis was quoted on the matter..

"We've talked to Columbia about doing a fully and digitally animated Ghostbusters and that's another possibility."

Considering how the Ninja Turtles went from live-action 80's movies to anime-influenced cartoons, then to a CGI film, Ghostbusters may follow a similar format to keep the franchise alive. Or at least keep it un-dead.

Whaddya say, animated Ghostbusters film... yey or nay?

1/27/13

Murray: 2011ish GB3 Draft "Didn't touch our stuff"



Almost two months into Dan Aykroyd's four-month ultimatum for a Ghostbusters 3 green light, Davide Passaia has sent us a Murray interview via "The Sunday Times" that digs a little big deeper into Bill Murray's read of the third script and re-re-re-confirms his declination of involvement.

Referring to doing a third film, Murray admitted that "it is kind of tempting. Kind of sad, but kind of tempting," going on to describe the third script (which landed on his doorstep a couple of years ago) has having a "lot of oomph behind it" but telling Matt Mueller at the Times that he stopped reading after 20 pages, citing that the new script "didn't touch our stuff."

On attempts to continue on without him, Murray simply says "it's not the way I would have gone."

Our analysis: On some level, it seems Murray would like to be involved, but wouldn't accept anything less than an A-grade movie.  He's disappointed the other guys are willing to dip into the project without his stamp of approval. Also of interest: Murray has not read Etan Cohen's new draft.

Here's the summary of the pay-walled Sunday Times article, from Yahoo News UK.

12/6/12

Wall Street Journal Chats Aykroyd

A quick quote from the article: “I will work with anyone” to get Ghostbusters III finished, Aykroyd vows to WSJ.




Image by http://fixer79.deviantart.com 

12/4/12

WE'VE GOT ONE: Esquire Has MASSIVE, MUST-READ, CANDID Interview with Aykroyd on GB3 Status.



Closer than ever... but now or never. Aykroyd lays down the "Ghostbusters 3" state of the union, speaks to Sony directly and is fantastically interviewed by Esquire's Michael B. Dougherty. Here's what we learned from the huge interview, which you must simply read for yourself.

Aykroyd's been working for free on draft revisions thus far and perhaps hints that the Stupinsky/Eisenberg draft was not totally scrapped. Aykroyd very hesitant to say anything clearly but it seems that they will have some sort of claim on the story and/or credit in the final product.

Murray may not have to sign off on the third film anymore for it to go into production, legally he may be out of the franchise approval process since he has said he doesn't want to be involved.

Aykroyd: Had Billy chosen to do the Eisenberg/Stupnitsky script of two years ago, it would be out this summer, and it would be a massive hit.


It's clear Aykroyd wanted the last script to happen. He was sure of it satisfying the producers and actors, especially Murray. Murray was indeed going to be a ghost in that draft, as he "requested" years ago. Yet, two years ago Murray laid down the law and stated that he wasn't going to be in that script. Aykroyd says that they would be leaving a hole in the story, for the off-chance Murray wants to slip in, as he tends to do. Sounds like they'd even rewrite for it.

Aykroyd: Of course, I'd love to have Billy call me tomorrow and say, "Let's go to work and start writing."

Then the tone turned. Aykroyd spoke directly to the studio, estimating the third film would gross over a hundred million but positing that his patience on the project was nearing an end and that the window of opportunity for the original players to be involved would be closing in the next three to four months.

Aykroyd: It's time now to sit down and make this movie, or you will lose your main principals, and you won't be able to make it without us, because we have rights, and now is time to make the movie... You don't take advantage of that in the next three or four months, I'll see you in Australia, where we'll be selling Crystal Head.

It sounds like Aykroyd has carried the torch for as long as he could, and if he is not going to get to pass it on, he will extinguish it.

Will "Ghostbusters 3" get a production number? Will Aykroyd pack up shop once and for all? Will we see Cohen's script with "incredible images" or sequels with solely  the new crew and perhaps a "Man-hell-ton" bent?

This is it everybody, keep it tuned here for the exciting conclusion in Q1 of 2013!


10/31/12

Mother Puss Bucket! Sony Studio Financial Troubles Delay GB3 Decision

GAH! There's some big dumb complicated high stakes Fortune 500 stuff going on over at Sony right now, with rumors of the studio being sold because it's parent company is experiencing financial difficulties. This has thrown all potential projects into jeopardy, including... you guessed it... Ghostbusters 3.

Kim Messina of The Hollywood Reporter writes "Any decision on Ghostbusters III, the long, long gestating sequel, has been postponed until the end of March — this after Men in Black 3 writer Etan Cohen was paid a huge sum for a script. Shooting was to begin next summer but now couldn’t start before fall at best."

We are experiencing delays.


10/20/12

Light Ain't Green, Trap Ain't Clean

Examiner.com, the local-focused website that will pretty much let anyone write for it, has a report up by Jim Dixon... an upstate New York blogger... who says he has an "update" on the third film from a (unnamed) senior spokesman at Sony studios. Really. Snarky commas, ellipses, ironic quotation marks, parentheses and italics aside, the article basically states that Sony does not have a start date locked for 2013, nor should Bill Murray be ruled out entirely.


And that makes sense. If you read inciting article from two days ago, it just implies that Reitman is gunning to roll film come Summer 2013 and Paramount (not GB property owners, that'd be Sony) is figuring his schedule out based upon the director's expectations. Not much solid or studio driven there. As our friend Dan Aykroyd would say, no production number, no green-light. When this thing is actually green-lit and out of the tenth level of development hell, trust us, you'll know. We'll use the headline "THE TRAP IS CLEAN! GHOSTBUSTERS 3 IS A DEFINITE GO". Ok? Ok.

Meanwhile, if Murray likes the script he will be in. He's like a broken record on that point. So the studio will not rule that out and has sent in their A-team to try to make that happen. The next update we need is a credible source on where the script rewrite stands. It's been too long since we've had a solid update... July in fact.



10/18/12

Deadline: GB3 in Front of Cameras Next Summer?


Deadline, a fairly "authoritive source" when it comes to studio inner-workings, has posted an update on the filming schedule for Ivan Reitman's "Draft Day" dropping some studio expectations for "Ghostbusters 3" in the process. The article describes how the football film may have to wait until Ivan directs GB3 this upcoming summer.

Deadline's Mike Fleming writes, "Paramount chose not to make it in the small window that Reitman has before he is expected to finally get the long-gestating Ghostbusters reboot in front of the cameras next summer for Sony Pictures (sans Bill Murray)."

An interesting look at what the insiders foresee. Murray is still not expected to join in and Reitman is still at the helm with us 9 months away from rolling cameras. Sounds realistic, no?

10/17/12

Murray's Putting Those Old Cheap Moves on Us (Plus, a Story We Don't Believe)

Murray stayed on message yesterday at the London Film Festival premiere of "Hyde Park on Hudson", restating that his GB3 involvement would be reliant upon a great script.



 Murray was quoted by entertainmentwise.com as saying "I don't know, they gotta, it's got to be good, they have to write something good." His methods are sloppy and our conclusions are highly questionable.

Meanwhile, another story has caught our eye, a piece of shoddy reporting from newsflavor.com that seems to be the worst kind of popular tripe. Take this one with a salt shaker because the article touts "HD photos" in a clear grab for clicks, has no sourcing and a few misspellings. Regardless, there is a sliver of new information in the Aykroyd quote they present...

“It’s coming along great. Really great. Were so excited. We just got some new writers in, because the original writers just weren’t producing what we were looking for in the time frame we needed. Good news is, . . now there’s some new fresh idea’s and takes, the bad part is, . . now, . . it’s just kinda going back to scratch, ya know. . Which sounds frustrating, but it’s a helluva lot better than a bad film. We’re really trying to capture what made the first so great. That’s so important. But from what I’ve seen so far, it looks very promising. There’s a great new spirit to the stuff that coming out now. Then, once we have something, . . . it’s about gettin all the guys together and showing them the final and getting there okay on it. So, . . . that will probably will be the hardest part of the whole damn thing. getting everybody together, . . . ya know. Bill ( Bill Murray ) will probably be the hardest sell. But I have a great feeling about this one. I don’t think it’s gonna be long guys before we have something everybody can give there thumbs up too. So keep those fingers crossed. "

So... when was this interview? Are there new writers coming in on top of Etan Cohen? Or is Aykroyd referring to Etan Cohen? And why the plural... "writers". Has someone joined Etan Cohen? Sounds like Etan really scrapped whatever had been built before him if it is going from scratch. Wonder what the scrapped script looks like... can anyone get their hands on it for us?

9/25/12

Ivan Reitman: "I think Ghostbusters probably should be remade"

An interesting turn-about for potential Ghostbusters 3 director Ivan Reitman. After signing on to several new projects a few months ago, Reitman has declared his focus on new properties for the time being in an interview with Collider. He then went ahead and suggested that Ghostbusters should be "remade", which fits with none of what we have heard so far.



REITMAN: "Well, I’d like to go forward and make new things. I think Ghostbusters probably should be remade, if we can get it all right. We’re working on it, so we’ll see."

So, is Etan Cohen scripting a remake instead of a threequel, casting a new Venkman, et. all? Or is Reitman mixing up "reboot" with "remake"? Or does he mean "rewritten"?

Whatever the case, Collider interviewer Christina Radish does us no favors in delving further.

Special thanks to Davide Passaia, who seems to be 6 hours ahead of the curve at all times with tips!

9/24/12

Aykroyd on Murray Waffling "He's Confusing Us All!"

At a Crystal Head signing in Ottawa, Dan Aykroyd got grilled by a fan asking the questions we're dying the know the answer to. Interesting responses were afoot...


On Murray's comments about hoping for a good third script...

D.A.: "Billy had Stay Puft at the film festival, he's confusing us all! Uh well, I pray and hope... I think... now-I guess its gonna depend how the script does. I pray... that he's in."

The fan then asked if two versions of the script were being developed, one with and one without Bill Murray. (GREAT QUESTION). Aykroyd dodged.

D.A.: "Well, they're working on it now... I've seen some pages and I've done a few changes and, uh, I feel more optimistic than ever. I can't answer any specific questions about plot, though."

Aykroyd went on to welcome an on-set interview, hinted that some filming might take place in Canada (often a stand-in for New York streets) and said that he would be reaching out to the fan community when the time comes.

Analysis: At this point, anything could happen. Let's hope for a great script. Also of note, we've now surpassed last year's post total on the subject of Ghostbusters 3, and it is only September. A fantastic sign that the project has sprung back to life.

9/11/12

Bill Puftin' Murray


Join us today as we play another rousing round of…

OVER.
ANALYSE.
(things muttered by Bill...)
MURRAY!



Bill Murray. Bill Goddamn Murray. Bill Fucking Murray. Bill Mother Fucking Murray. Aloof, chillax, hilarious, impossible to nail down and never willing to out-right say “no”.

Since Aykroyd’s admission, twice, that “Murray will not do the movie”, Murray has, twice, made Aykroyd eat his definitive words. Murray gives a coy glimmer of hope in every appearance he makes, making the sting of a Murray-less Ghostbusters hurt a little less, and perhaps stringing us all along.

Murray was in Toronto this weekend, at a TIFF screening of Hyde on Hudson Park, where he walked the red carpet and took a few interviews. Watch him pretty much bring up Ghostbusters 3 on his own after being asked if people shout “Ghostbusters!” his way. He knows what the interviewer wants, even if the guy with the microphone won’t say it.


Interviewer: "How many times a day do nerds like me just shout out 'Ghostbusters!' to you!"

Murray: "Well, there's uh, some Ghostbusters hysteria over there, there's someone carrying around a giant, like a very large doll of a marshmallow man. So it comes up a lot, it comes up a lot, the idea of doing another Ghostbusters and you know, we'll see, there's another script in process and we'll see if it's good. It's got to be really good though, because, you know, the first one was so great." 

See, here’s where the trouble starts… from this interview we learn that Murray is aware... and being looped into reading... the new script in process. This marks the THIRD time now he has hinted involvement if a great script can be crafted and is the first word from him we've in the three full months since Etan Cohen was brought on board to rewrite. In our last post on this matter, we postulated that the Cohen-lead rewrite was commissioned to write Venkman out of the script... that may not be true. Considering Cohen salvaged Men in Black from it's cruddy second film and wrote up a great threequel, maybe Murray's ears are pricked? 

Murray’s syntax pins him as being involved with this production. When he says “we'll see, there's another script in the process and we'll see if it's good” rather than “they'll see if it's good”, his potential participation is implied.  When he says that “it's got to be really good”, he means that his involvement hinges upon that fact, otherwise, why would he care? 

So here we are again at square one. A hot writer on the script, Aykroyd cautious, Murray flippant, everyone else just waiting. It’s all on Cohen now, to somehow cobble together a script that tickles Murray’s fickle fancy.

Can he? Can he tickle Murray’s fickle fancy? This guy has been on and out of the movie more times than Slimer’s been in and out of the containment unit (that’s all I’ve got for “clever” Ghostbusters references this morning).  We’ll see what the next few months bring.



On a side note, how dreadful was the level of fast-paced Hollywood-lingo-speak from that interviewer at the start? It was worrisome how the annoyance was building to a Ghostbusters 3 question as the reporter strung-on-sentenced his way through telling Murray about his own oddball lawyerless, agentless, phoneless method of script selection. Awkward. But at the end, the interviewer reveals that he was aware of the stigma surrounding the GB3 question, of how he knows it is all Murray must get and how it simply must be asked none-the-less. Something about that made him a bit more respectable, that and how he quickly moved the conversation back to an Oscar well-wish for Murray. Classy. Chalk the rest up to nerves. 

8/16/12

Janine on the Screen? Anne's "Yes I Can"

If asked, Potts is positively in, according to this Assignment X interview. Melnitz in the (fire)house!

AX: Have you heard anything about the rumored GHOSTBUSTERS III film?

POTTS: I don’t have a contract, but I hear it’s going to happen.

AX: Would you be looking forward to reprising your role as Janine?

POTTS: Oh, of course!

AX: Might she be a little more assertive this time around?

POTTS: I have a feeling she might be. I’ll be interested to see what they’ve written.

LINK TO THE ARTICLE

8/8/12

Ghostbusters 3 Casting, Let's Speculate!


Listen, I don't care who you think should be cast, you are wrong. In 1997 the dream team was Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Mike Myers and Chris Farley. In 2003 it was Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn and Jack Black. In 2007 the dream team was Steve Carell, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd. 

Today the team changes again. Think you can do better? Throw down. Feel free to try to argue anyone out of the movie, but I will tell you why you are wrong and I am right.

Ladies and Gentleman, your Ghostbusters.



CORE FOUR:

Bill Hader as Heart
I shouldn't even have to sell you on this one. An SNL actor has to be in the cast and Hader is our first choice. He has not worn out his welcome in the spotlight (yet) and would make a fine scientist. He can be the heart of the Ghostbusters and finally own a franchise-able character. He made a hilarious cameo in Men in Black 3 this summer, written by Ghostbusters 3's current scribe Etan Cohen.

Melissa McCarthy as Mouth
We know they're adding a woman to the crew. She needs to be hilarious, and we're doubtful a wafer-thin lady is going to look right in a jumpsuit, handling one of those heavy packs. Thus, McCarthy seems like an amazing choice here. We think she should be the new Bill Murray of the group as the mouth, reverse-womanizer (manizer?) and wit of the Ghostbusters. McCarthy did a bang-up job on SNL and she's fierce to boot. She ain't afraid of no ghost and knows the other actor busters well. Comedy has needed a woman as strong as Melissa for a long time and after her breakout in Bridesmaids... this is her franchise to own.

Jason Sudeikus as a Sleezy Everyman
We need Hader's heart to have a realist buddy with great comedic timing. Murray and Aykroyd worked so well together because they've played with each other before. Hader/Sudeikus can work in this same way. Sudeikus can also do sleezy character extremely well. One can imagine him doling out damage to a major New York landmark and brushing it off. 

JUDGE FOR YOURSELF: An SNL Sketch with McCarthy, Sudeikus and Hader.



Donald Glover as Brains
The cast needs some color but should avoid pigeon holing a black character into an Everyman/Winston role. Come to think of it, Donald's Community co-star Danny Pudi would also fit the bill fairly well in this spot, but he's less ready for a breakout leading role than Donald is. Donald knows nerdy. If he can make us laugh out loud remains to be seen, but he has a great energy about him, is generally beloved in the comedy world and would hurt the cast in zero ways.

Venkman or not, Ghostbusters or not, as a comedy snob... I would see this film. Face it, you would too. The NBC dynamic is strong and passing the legacy torch to these comedians would yield much funny. Now that doesn't have to be the end of it, there are plenty of cameo opportunities for New Yorkers and SNL alumn. The following are GB3 Blog approved...

SUPPORTING
Jane Lynch, as a love interest for an original Ghostbuster. 
Kristin Wiig as a love interest for a new Ghostbuster 
Fred Armisen as a New Yorker. 
Will Arnett as a bureaucrat and McCarthy love interest. 
Alec Baldwin as the mayor of New York. 
Nick Offerman as a property owner. 
Emma Stone pushing papers and answering phones back at the office. 
Bret Gelman in a villanous role. Google him, you've seen his face on Funny or Die a LOT, always in quality material. 
And let's not forget Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd as mentors with a cameo from Ernie Hudson. 

OSCAR???
And finally... playing with the big boys, there may be need for an Oscar. Now, perhaps with Murray out of the script they can remove this character entirely... that would be best. But if unavoidable, we would need a blonde, white comedian at age 21-25, and finding the perfect person is a HARD CALL. Most respected comedians are out of this age range and those who can play that young are completely overexposed (think Jonah Hill, Michael Cera) So it is with much research we must present newcomer Bo Burnham,a dirty blonde YouTube megastar (WATCH) that made the cross over to Comedy Central specials this year. He can do scientist, he can do subtle and he can bring in the younger audience without compromising the older audience. Seems he should be a GBIT (Ghostbuster in training) who gets a shot at the big time come film's end, ala Louis Tully. It would be best if this character could be a bit schlubby, like a young Zach Galifinakis... yet the blonde facial hair and lack of actual Venkman genetics will really put a crimp in that. 

MAIN CAST ALTERNATES

Steve Merchant as Brains
I present for your consideration, Steve Merchant. You know him from the U.K. version of the Office, as the hilarious voice of Wheatley from Portal 2 and he is currently starring in a project... by Ghostbusters 3's first draft writers Eisenberg and Stupnitsky. Dry international British scientist flavor, anyone? One of the funniest men alive IMO. He can be the brains of the Ghostbusters. Remember: Harold Ramis wasn't really a big name, nor did he ever become one. Merchant fits that bill well with a great character twist that will keep it fresh. With this move, Glover would have to be bumped away from Brains and likely to everyman. It's a trade-off, we lose the Hader/Sudeikus team up but we gain an extremely smart voice that can add a lot of unique stuff to the film. An Asian actor with the clout of Ken Jeong would be ideal to create a new niched character, but Ken is a tad too old. We still believe Donald would be a fine straight man with a resume of gold and strong ties to the current comedy world. 












Rob Corddry as Everyman
We say Rob Corddry as the bald Ghostbuster. Unconvinced? Go watch a few episodes of Children's Hospital and get back to us. It helps the cast remain a little less pretty to have a bald guy in the mix over Sudeikus . Hopefully having a Brit and a woman on the team satisfies diversity quota as well, enough to nix Glover. 




About the selection process: New Ghostbusters cannot be in their late 40s or older. They cannot be under 25 either... they're adults in their 30's, best case scenerio. They need to be TV star comedians first and foremost (as Murray, Aykroyd, Ramis and Moranis were), just finding their foothold in the motion picture business. Exceptions can be made for actors playing straight characters (see: Potts, Hudson, Weaver). They cannot be over-exposed or movie goers will not accept them in the roles. They cannot be beautiful people, they're scientist/janitors that get slimed for a living and live in a firehouse.

Again, think you can do better? Let the debate begin. Hint, your choice is too old, too obscure or too over-exposed. Oh, that guy? He would never be in a Ghostbusters movie, he considers himself too cool. Her? I know you like her and all, but can she really make you laugh harder than McCarthy? 

8/4/12

Why The Rewrite?

Well if Murray wouldn't sign off on the script, clearly it would need a rewrite, yes? Just a thought as to why we went to rewrites this summer.

8/2/12

Even with New Script, Murray Won't Be in GB3, Says Aykroyd

Sad. Again.

"I can tell you Bill won't be involved. It's sad but we're passing it on to a new generation. Ghostbusters 3 can be a successful movie without Bill. My preference would be to have him involved but at this point he doesn't seem to be coming and we have to move on. It's time to make the third one" Aykroyd told the Metro according to HuffPo UK.

Well, perhaps this can be like the Star Trek reboot. Respected for including Nemoy, Shatner-less but great none-the-less.




7/29/12

#JMS4GB3?


Everyone's favorite Real Ghostbusters writer, J. Michael Straczynski, mentioned that he had an idea for Ghostbusters 3. Screen Rant took that as a call to action, announcing a campaign on twitter to try and get Sony to consider the writer for a rescripting.

After hashtag #JMS4GB3 was tweeted around, Straczynski said this on his Facebook page:

 "This has been blown way out of proportion. The reporter asked if I might have an idea for a GB3, and having given the characters and that world a lot of thought having working on it years ago, I said yes, because it's true, but I'm not out there lobbying for the job and in particular I don't want fans out there bugging people because all that does is piss them off. Nobody likes to feel like their hand is being forced. I'm confident that the guys putting this together are going to do a bang-up job. That it hasn't been done so far shows that they really want to get this right, not get it out now, and that shows their commitment to it. That's good enough for me."

7/19/12

Sigourney Weaver Sounding Like She's Still Game for GB3


Peter Travers's "Popcorn" featured an interview with Sigourney for her new show "Political Animals" and turned to this month's Ghostbuster's 3 news. Nothing majorly new from S.V. but here are her choice quotes from the session: "I've gotten a couple of calls from Ivan Reitman." "Without Bill Murray its hard to imagine a Ghostbusters." "We'll see what the answer is this time." "I don't know if he's going to participate, but it would have been great to work with everybody again, everyone is such a lovely, brilliant person on Ghostbusters, it would have been very meaningful but I don't know whats happening."

7/16/12

Aykroyd Reading a GB3 Rewrite This Weekend!

Aykroyd's first interview since Etan Cohen was announced as the new scriptwriter for Ghostbusters 3 has been a revealing one. On the air for a radio interview with WAR 105.7's Woody and Rizzuto, Dan let loose the following:

 "This project is like a racehorse, you know, you've got the horse but sometimes you have to bring in different groomers and trainers and medics, so we have the horse there, we had those two writers from the office, they did a great job of laying down a basic structure and a template for the second movie. But the studio felt that they wanted a little more, and you know it's their money, they put it up and they wanted something different and they decided to try to put another layer on it, if you would and bring in Mr. Cohen who wrote the Men in Black 3 movie. So, I'm excited to read his treatment which I will be doing this weekend. And then I'll take the script back, or the treatment back and being to do my work with Harold and hopefully we'll be further along in the process."

  On the chances Murray involvement with new script...

 "Well that's up to Billy, I, I don't know. I can't speak for him and I can only say that it would be sad to do it without him, but if we have to do it without him, I think the franchise and the whole concept is big enough to handle it, and people want it. I think people want it with or without him or any of the originals. I think you could do it and hand it off to the new Ghostbusters and it would really work."

  What we learned:

 1) Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky's script hasn't been totally scrapped! Their draft was the framework and this rewrite (or maybe just Cohen himself) will add "another layer" to the script. That's cool, because Aykroyd seemed pretty happy with the first draft and some of the details that were leaking out seemed to be the right direction for the project, ie) the original crew's involvement in a Doc Brown capacity, inter-dimensional exploration and hints of Hindu influences.

 2) Cohen is moving along at a rapid pace! Well, either that or he has been working on the script for longer than we realize. A revision is going to be in Aykroyd's hands this weekend (5 days!) then Aykroyd and Ramis take a stab at it again, which I am glad for. Their involvement on the videogame script was probably one of the reasons the entire ordeal felt so true to the tone of the first two films.

3) Nothing about Murray. Murray is as enigmatic to Aykroyd as always. At least we don't have Dan saying Bill "won't do the movie" again, but his reinforced comments about the franchise being stronger than the original crew are worrying.

You can listen to the full radio interview HERE. Special thanks to Davide Passaia for the tip.

7/10/12

So Who is Etan Cohen?



Now assigned to rewrite Ghostbusters 3, Etan Cohen is a name you should get used to hearing around this blog. So who is he?

Etan is a screenwriter with a versatile range in comedy. He's taken on the dry, deadpan tone of King of the Hill and Idocracy as well as the over-the-top stupid tone of Beavis and Butt-head and... Idiocracy. He's taken is back in time in Men in Black and forward in time in Idiocracy. He's written for Ben Stiller in Madagascar 2 and Tropic Thunder.

Etan has collaborated on scripts with big names. He takes their ideas and plusses them, turning them into modern, well reviewed screenplays.  Ben Stiller kicked the idea for Tropic Thunder around for years before handing the reins over to Cohen, where he crafted the majority of the script. The original idea for Men in Black 3 was suggested by Will Smith on the set of Men in Black II, then put into Cohen's hands to mold. Cohen found the characters and brought them back to the screen in a fashion true to form. With Madagascar 2 he revisited the first movie's characters and the film saw even better reviews, one of those rare sequels that tops the first.

The mundane humor of King of the Hill paired with the sci-fi elements of Men in Black are exactly what Ghostbusters III needs. Cohen knows how to please and compliment the ideas of the original creators and how to balance science fiction with comedy. He knows how to bring a decade old franchise back from the dead, to good reviews.

It sounds likely that elements of the previous Ghostbusters draft will live on, with Etan giving them his own personal rinse. He's good at grabbing the source material, grabbing the new ideas and making sense out of them. If anybody can make this movie a worth while blockbuster, it is Etan Cohen.

Short list of comedy folks in Cohen movies that I wouldn't mind seeing in Ghostbusters III: Danny McBride, Bill Hader, Sasha Baron Cohen,

Ghostbusters III Has the Best New Possible Writer: Etan Cohen


Sony announced today that they've got their guy Etan Cohen... the writer from Men in Black III, Tropic Thunder and Idiocracy... re-penning Ghostbusters 3. Can you say "best case scenario"? We needed a strong/modern comedy writer, a strong sci-fi writer and now we have one. If this doesn't work, what will??

Hopefully this helps push Bill Hader to be in the third film, his cameo in MIB III was hilarious. Rumor also had it that Murray accidentally signed onto Garfield because he thought the Cohen brothers were writing the film (Ethan and Joel Cohen of No Country for Old Men/The Big Lebowski). Turns out it was ANOTHER Joel Cohen that was writing on Garfield. Maybe we can trick him this time too, Etan Cohen and Ethan Cohen are different people to us, but maybe not to him :D


7/1/12

Ghostbusters 3 Gets New Writers, Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky Presumably Out

While signing crystal heads in Amherst, NY yesterday, Dan Aykroyd gave us an update on the status of "Ghostbusters 3" rewrites.

 WIVB 4 reports:"We've got a new writing staff working on it now," Aykroyd said. "It's got to be perfect. That's the whole thing. There's no point in doing it unless it's perfect."

 One presumes that means Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky are out, once lauded for their work on "The Office", then tarnished for their "Year One" and "Bad Teacher" screenplays. With Murray refusing to bow out completely, there seems to be a chance that he'd be on board for a "perfect" Ghostbusters threequel. Is it even possible? Who knows, but the saga continues...

 Our next step, somebody find out who is rewriting this thing! Meanwhile, happy 60th birthday, Dan!

6/21/12

Reitman Taking on ANOTHER Project, Leaving GB3 Further Behind



Today "Draft Day", yesterday "Field Trip", Reitman is going into project-attach mode, which can only mean not-good things for soonish GB3 prospects. Cross your fingers that they're big hits, that can do a lot of good towards fueling the third film. "No Strings Attached" wasn't really a bomb, nor was it a blockbuster... what we need out of "Draft Day" is something bigger than the time Joe "Willie" Namath's jersey avoided a personal hosing.

Forgive me, there aren't many football references in the Ghostbusters franchise to work with.


6/19/12

You Never Studied: Reitman Goes on School "Field Trip" in New Film...



"Field Trip", while sticking to the rule that is apparently destroying science fiction, sounds like a cool project but Reitman jumping onto it full force means that we're not looking at a Ghostbusters 3 any time soon.

Meanwhile, Reitman + sci fi could be good with the right script and actors. Which he rarely gets... but you never know! *cough* EVOLUTION *cough*

Link via Cinema Blend.

6/11/12

Sony Still Excited to Be a Part of This Plan. Ghostbusters 3, That Is.

Last year Sony made their active franchises known at the Licensing International Expo, including Ghostbusters among other active projects for the year 2012, including Men in Black and Spider-Man.

Setbacks revolving around the reception of the third film's script may have damped many-a-blogger's attitude on the third film, but Sony still seems behind the franchise enough to rehash the logo and cityscape graphics they worked up last year and place them with other, less enticing films (IMO). 



Amazingly, no party has yet to put their foot down and end this film's prospects. So the endless speculation lives on in this epic poem.

Side note, if I wrote a book on the long journey we've taken to Ghostbusters 3, would you read it? Would include inside stories from execs, producers and writers. Let me know, I've started to outline it and I think there's an interesting story to tell here. We are dealing with the most talked about, elusive sequel in the history of cinema after all, and this blog is number one in google search behind imdb and wikipedia. That must mean SOMETHING. I think it means I need to write a book.



6/10/12

Reitman on Murray and GB3: "We Keep Working on It"



A bit on Murray and Ghostbusters 3 status from Ivan Reitman's interview with IGN: "There's always a hope. But I don't know. We keep working on it. And I think some days he wakes up and thinks it would be fun to do that again, and some days he doesn't feel interested in it at all."

 Sounds about right.

6/8/12

Murray Not Giving Up the Ghost: "It's Hard", "We'll Try Again"

Takeaway: Aykroyd didn't think Murray would do it and Murray isn't entirely impressed with what he saw in the script he was sent. Still he is reluctant as hell to rule out GB3 altogether at this point. There's an internal struggle within him (he makes a lot of faces at the canned applause) that is clear to see when Dave asks for a definitive answer.

Instead of a "no" (which I reiterate will release me from this torture that is updating you on GB3 news) he states his high standard of funny, implies the script he was sent wasn't up to par and says "we'll try again", admitting that he is the hold up and talking about how hard it is to make it good/funny. So, rewrites it is then!

Quotables to over think:

"You just have to have a really good script, you know, it's hard"
So if he gets one he's in then?

"Its hard to make a sequel, its gotta be really funny and that first one was so darn funny that... it's hard..."
I don't think he blames anyone for not getting it right. I mean it IS hard! 

"I think, you know, we'll try again. I always dragged my feet on it but I think if you could get that..."
Aware he's the hold up, but willing to throw a "but" in there... sounds like he's for it, if its good! 

5/25/12

Bill Murray Still Deflecting Ghostbusters Questions

With the release of Moonrise Kingdom and plenty of Murray in the public spotlight, reporters that just can't help themselves are asking Murray "the question" once again.



The result this time? He compares Ghostbusters to "Avengers Assemble". What? I don't know. Venkman is Tony Stark, Ray is Captain America... that's all I've got. Vigo is Thor? Clearly he means the team dynamic must be right for Ghostbusters III to happen but I don't know if he's making weird analogies because he hasn't totally dismissed the project or because he's tired of just saying "yes" or "no", and is opting to just be weird.

This one via "Film News" out of the UK.

4/8/12

Murray on GB3 Involvement: "It's a Possibility"


Join me as I over analyze a sentence...


Just when I think I'm out, they keep pulling me back in. Davide Passaia forwarded me an interesting interview from April 5th 2012, presumably after Murray's appearance at opening day for the Cubs. WGN sports anchor guy Pat Tomasulo talked Cubbies with Murray, having a very lively conversation while slowly working his way to the unavoidable Ghostbusters 3 question:

"I heard you mention some of the movies you were working on, I think some people out there were interested in Ghostbusters 3, if that is a possibility, and if you'll be involved with that?"

Off the cuff, Murray answered with a non-committal "Well, it's a possibility..." before immediately changing the subject, pointing out that he has a very funny movie with Wes Anderson on the way this Summer.

Listen for yourself here.

So here's what's bothering me...

Why didn't Murray just say "no"? Why didn't he shoot down the possibility, especially after throwing to his summer Wes Anderson flick so fast? Is he interested, might he be interested with a tweaked script? Is he unaware that the cat is out of the bag on his non-involvement and trying not to hurt Aykroyd's feelings? Maybe he just wasn't thinking? What does that mean for Aykroyd's assertion in the Telegraph interview from last month? Maybe Murray is being flakey and not giving anyone a straight answer, so Aykroyd just gave up? Seriously, why didn't Murray say no to GB3 in this conversation? He's called the project crock before. What's stopping him from doing just that once more? Does he want to force me to blog for an eternity? Doesn't he care that I announced a retirement from Ghostbusters 3 blogging!?!?!?!

As Murray puts it in another portion of the interview, unrelated to Ghostbusters, "Well you can't believe everything you read".

The blog goes on, as long as Murray goes on. Let's hope baseball season drives him out of the woodwork more often so we can get to the bottom of this and I can leave this blogger plane without unfinished business.



2/28/12

Dan Aykroyd Says It At Last "Bill Murray Will Not Do The Movie”

A million Ghostbusters fans cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced.


We finally have Aykroyd quoted on Murray's GB3 stance. Bill Murray won't be in the movie. The end. Of my dreams.

 Maybe if Wes Anderson directed it. And he played a historical figure instead of Peter Venkman... no, no. There is just no saving it.Guys, I'm gonna say it. I don't want this film without Murray. So the blog stops here. It's been a fun few years tracking this project. I know it will never end. They'll do a CGI movie some day, new cartoons and comics will follow the adventures of the Ghostbusters. Maybe we'll get a video game sequel if we're lucky. But for now, I consider the project a non-starter. Want GBIII? Play the video game, my friends. Play the video game.

2/15/12

"The Script Has to Be Perfect and at This Point It Is Not Perfect"

While abroad Dan Aykroyd stopped in for a chat with Loose Women (that's a show). He talked about ecto plasm and Ghostbusters 3.



"Well I don't know at this point, at this point the script has to be perfect and at this point it is not perfect and we're not going to do something that isn't perfect. So I have no idea on time, obviously the studio wants to make it, I want to make it, Mr Reitman want to make it. I'm doing everything I can from my 1/4th or 1/5th the equation. It's just the nature of Hollywood, it takes a long time. Its an ephemeral thing, picture making."

My theory? Murray said no and they need to rewrite, but the script was solid in it's previous form and now moving forward is... going to be hard. Goggle tip to Proton Charging for sharing this video


Bonus Rumor: President LENNNYYYYY

If anything good came from the massive front page thread about recasting Bill Murray on Reddit today, it was a comment that pointed out IMBD's listing for David Margulies.

On the site, which has plenty of completely unconfirmed casting, he is listed as "President Lenny Ramis". A mayor of New York who was running for Gov 1989, president in 2012? So perfect. I instantly accept this as canon, regardless of IMDB being pure crock. The idea of the Ghostbusters yelling about the end of the world in the Oval Office is just too perfect.




HEY REDDIT: Empire Posts Full Transcript of Dan Aykroyd Chat... No Mention of Murray Recast

With Ghostbusters III lately, the trend has been to put out one rumor, start another. Empire effectively killed the "Murray Shredded Script" tall tale, then introduced an "Aykroyd To Recast Bill Murray" tall tale.




Luckily, Empire has posted the full transcript of the online chat, where it's easy to see what went on.  Here are a few choice Ghostbusters tidbits

stantz83 says: Ghostbusters 3, any news?
The script must be perfect. We cannot release a film that is any less so. We have more work to do. 
welsh_evs says: Is it true that Bill Murray sent a Ghostbusters 3 script back shredded with a note that said: "No-one wants to pay money to see fat, old men chasing ghosts"?
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.
JediBobster says: Dan you are clearly very skilled at doing so, but what is your personal record for holding a cigarette solely on your bottom lip? 
 That was a beautiful example of spontaneous synchronicity. I had no idea that the cigarette would say there when I opened my mouth. It was not intended to be that way; in fact, it was intended to drop to the floor. But when it didn't, I made sure that Ivan printed the take and once everyone saw it we used it in the film. And I might be able to do it again, with a little special effects help.
lebamski says: Hi Dan. If you were to make a reboot of the original Ghostbusters film, rather than a sequel, which actors would you pick to take the roles of Ray, Peter, Egon and Winston if you could have anyone you wanted?
Well, let me see. See, we don't ever think of making the original over again, but if I were to have to do that, hmm... Matthew Gray Gubler as Egon. Zach Galifianakis as Ray. Vince Vaughn as Peter. And for Winston, maybe Chris Tucker.


Never heard of Matthew Gulber myself, have you? Looks like he had some bit parts in 500 Days of Summer and The Life Aquatic. Aykroyd digs the most obscure actors sometimes...

2/13/12

Dan Aykroyd Publicly Dismisses Murray Script-Shredding Rumor

Empire Magazine held a live chat with Dan Aykroyd and fans like Davide Passaia asked alllllllll the right questions. Bear with some of the translations as Davide is from Ghostbusters Italia.


 HAS BILL MURRAY SHREDDED THE GB3 SCRIPT????
" 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."
 Later he talked about Moranis and said that the new refined script will surely have a part for him.
Ok so that was a bit of a mess.

Back in December I didn't report on the script shredding rumors because they came from the FREAKIN NATIONAL ENQUIRER. You know, the bigfoot, batboy, MIB people. That didn't stop major entertainment news organizations from sharing the story. Yeesh.

UPDATE: Empire themselves back up the Aykroyd quotes, they've posted a blog with them on their site.. Looks like Aykroyd is refining the script and Murray involvement is... well... it sounds like he won't be in the film. I am taking "his position on involvement in GB3 has been made clear" to mean that he isn't in. Make of that what you will and take with it as many grains of salt as you will.

Empire asserts that a new actor might take over Venkman's role. I do not see where Aykroyd implied that in the quotes. Do you?

1/27/12

Jonah Hill and Kristen Bell Fuel New GBIII Rumors. We're Not Convinced.

Two major celebrities tweeted photos of themselves with the car from Ghostbusters earlier today.

Sure, Jonah Hill and Kristen Bell would make fine Ghostbusters. Anyone who saw Jonah's work in Moneyball or who has avidly watched Veronica Mars and "understands" what Bell can do will get that. But these pictures shouldn't spur third movie rumors. The biggest tip-off? Ecto here is parked right next to the car from The Green Hornet, meaning the Ghostbusters' ride of choice isn't out for a shoot, it's just out on the lot. No special occassion. Just sittin there being pretty. And why not, it was shined up over the past few years for the video game and related events.

 Hill and Bell are smart. They know posting something Ghostbusters related will get them buzzed about. It worked. Bravo guys. Click to enlarge screen shots below.

10/22/11

Sony Pictures Talks to Deadline, Murray Still a Spectre

Lazy update time, from Deadline: "I’m told that the studio isn’t going to make it without Bill Murray. And as recently as last month, he had not read the script, or if he did, he has not reached out to get the dealmaking started."

8/29/11

Aykroyd Still Hoping for Murray, Admits GBIII May Move Forward Without Him

Yeah, we've been slacking on the latest round of Ghostbusters frenzy. It's for good reason though, almost nothing new has been revealed. Ernie Hudson stated that he still does not know what's up. Dan Aykroyd said they still haven't heard from Murray.  He is confident the movie will happen, as he has been for years, and that has been the cause for CNN to announce "DAN AYKROYD: GHOSTBUSTERS 3 IS OFFICIALLY A GO". Pretty terrible journalism.

The newest thing to come of this is D.A.'s posit that Ghostbusters is a brand big enough to move forward without Murray. He doesn't sound too keen to make that move though.

7/12/11

Aykroyd, He Tweets!

Dan Aykroyd just tweeted this, playing with our little hearts. Hard to know what is real anymore. I mean he believes UFOs are real...

6/14/11

Two-fer Tuesday!

Ok! Two minor updates.  First and least importantly, Bill Hader was stopped and asked to reiterate his knowledge of Ghostbusters III. Surprise surprise, it's exactly the same info! As in, he hasn't heard anything.  He's one of many front runners, so who knows if he will be ever involved, but if they were to announce this sucker at Comic-Con then Hader should be in the loop by now. MTV News fills in the rest...




Meanwhile Hey U Guys by way of Toys & Gadgets has exposed some chatter about Ghostbusters 3 being a 2013 title from a Sony insert at the Licensing International Expo. Significant because this is the first time we've seen 2013 as the latest this movie would be in theaters (before it was winter 2012) and because it's right from the studio. Not a final confirmation though, because these Expos aren't about announcing films as much as they are about generating franchise opportunity buzz.




Ghostbusters has always been a summer movie, maybe 2013 is for the better. What say you?

6/1/11

Well, GB3 isn't Dead at Least

After months of silence from cast and crew surrounding Ghostbusters 3, we have a status update in-that, it's not dead. Aykroyd talks the usual game below, the hope to have Murray on board, the cool story that's waiting to be told...




Word is still mum on Murray's commitment to involvement. Personally, I'm holding out for Comic-Con. If there's no announcement then, I give up.  Forever. (Yeah right).

3/30/11

FDR, yes. GBIII?

The New Yorker's sources link Bill Murray to starring as FDR in a film set to shoot THIS SUMMER. Let's face it. Murray is going after the Oscar. And not of the Dana-born variety.


Then again, who's to say he can't juggle a few projects? Especially if both are set in New York, as Hyde Park On the Hudson sounds to be... Hell, wasn't Natalie Portman in like 5 movies in one month this year? I dunno. All I know is, Ghostbuters was supposed to shoot this summer, and this role is likely to be one of the many things that Murray has been busied with thinking about.

Hey, maybe he can get Aykroyd and Ramis bit parts as cabinet members! Now we're talkin!

3/15/11

Bill Hader Would be a Buster in a Heartbeat

Quoted at the Paul premiere by Entertainment Weekly, Bill Hader's thoughts on if he would be in Ghostbusters III...

“In a heartbeat. Oh my god. Are you kidding? Do you have to even ask? It’s f—ing Ghostbusters. Classic. And if the rumors on the Internet are true that it would start shooting this summer, I would like to remind everyone that I am available, as that will be during my hiatus.”



Bill, I would like to be the first person to say, welcome aboard to the Ghostbusters team in my heart.

3/14/11

Three Weeks After Stern... No Word From Murray

Three weeks now after Murray chatted to Howard Stern about reading the Ghostbusters III script, we've got confirmation from Reitman in a Hollywood Reporter article that Venkman has still yet to report back on the script.


The best news that the Hollywood Reporter surfaces is that there is no makeable script for the Baywatch movie Ivan was reported to be eying last week.  Along with Aykroyd on the Defenders, Ernie Hudson on Torchwood, Sigourney Weaver's extremely busy schedule, it's good to know that not everybody is rebooking their life in wait for Murray.