Columbia Pictures have hired The Office (US) co-executive producers Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky to write a third Ghostbusters film, with the intention to reunite original stars Harold Ramis, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson.
Eisenberg and Stupnitsky (who has a surname that wouldn't look out of place on the Ghostbusters team) recently wrote the comedy Year One, which was directed by Harold Ramis, who played Egon Spengler. Ramis also directed a few episodes of their NBC hit The Office.
Just yesterday Dan Aykroyd (who wrote the previous films with Ramis) commented that Ghostbusters III might be on the way, although the inference was that Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen (Knocked Up/Pineapple Express) were the creative team behind the revival.
For me, this is just excellent news. Ghostbusters (1984) was a defining film in my childhood, as I've mentioned many times on this blog. I devoured the cartoon, bought the action figures, I had a toy proton pack, the whole deal. Ghostbusters II (1989) was a big disappointment for me, although I caught bits on TV just last weekend and it does have some good moments. It's certainly nowhere near as crass and cynical as modern-day cash-in sequels can be.
Of course, there's no guarantee a completed script will meet with studio approval and get made. But it does mean we can spend months speculating on what Ghostbusters III will involve. Traditionally, fans have assumed the new film will find the Ghostbusters handing over their business to a new, younger team. Various names have been bandied around as potential new Ghostbusters -- such as Jack Black (who poked fun at the film in Be Kind Rewind), Seth Rogen, Will Ferrell, Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller.
But maybe Eisenberg/Stupnitsky's Office connections will come into play? I could imagine Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson and Ed Helms having roles in this. I'm guessing a new Ghostbusters would attract a lot of modern comedy talent, given its impact on popular culture and links to the original Saturday Night Live troupe. So expect a strong cast.
Now all they need to do is convince Bill Murray to return. The most successful of the original cast members, Murray has become a respected face in independent drama since the mid-90s (Rushmore, Lost In Translation, et al). Beyond voice work for the Garfield movies and a cameo in Get Smart, I can't even remember the last comedy he appeared in. Murray's infamously dismissed the idea of starring in another Ghostbusters, having been disappointed by how Ghostbusters II turned out. He once "joked" he'd only consider reprising his role of cynical lothario Peter Venkman if his character was a ghost. But, he did voice his character for the upcoming Ghostbusters video-game, so maybe he's softening to the idea?
Well, let's wait and see. I certainly hope the current vogue for bringing '80s cinema icons back stretches to Ghostbusters, that decade's most profitable comedy.
Eisenberg and Stupnitsky (who has a surname that wouldn't look out of place on the Ghostbusters team) recently wrote the comedy Year One, which was directed by Harold Ramis, who played Egon Spengler. Ramis also directed a few episodes of their NBC hit The Office.
Just yesterday Dan Aykroyd (who wrote the previous films with Ramis) commented that Ghostbusters III might be on the way, although the inference was that Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen (Knocked Up/Pineapple Express) were the creative team behind the revival.
For me, this is just excellent news. Ghostbusters (1984) was a defining film in my childhood, as I've mentioned many times on this blog. I devoured the cartoon, bought the action figures, I had a toy proton pack, the whole deal. Ghostbusters II (1989) was a big disappointment for me, although I caught bits on TV just last weekend and it does have some good moments. It's certainly nowhere near as crass and cynical as modern-day cash-in sequels can be.
Of course, there's no guarantee a completed script will meet with studio approval and get made. But it does mean we can spend months speculating on what Ghostbusters III will involve. Traditionally, fans have assumed the new film will find the Ghostbusters handing over their business to a new, younger team. Various names have been bandied around as potential new Ghostbusters -- such as Jack Black (who poked fun at the film in Be Kind Rewind), Seth Rogen, Will Ferrell, Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller.
But maybe Eisenberg/Stupnitsky's Office connections will come into play? I could imagine Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson and Ed Helms having roles in this. I'm guessing a new Ghostbusters would attract a lot of modern comedy talent, given its impact on popular culture and links to the original Saturday Night Live troupe. So expect a strong cast.
Now all they need to do is convince Bill Murray to return. The most successful of the original cast members, Murray has become a respected face in independent drama since the mid-90s (Rushmore, Lost In Translation, et al). Beyond voice work for the Garfield movies and a cameo in Get Smart, I can't even remember the last comedy he appeared in. Murray's infamously dismissed the idea of starring in another Ghostbusters, having been disappointed by how Ghostbusters II turned out. He once "joked" he'd only consider reprising his role of cynical lothario Peter Venkman if his character was a ghost. But, he did voice his character for the upcoming Ghostbusters video-game, so maybe he's softening to the idea?
Well, let's wait and see. I certainly hope the current vogue for bringing '80s cinema icons back stretches to Ghostbusters, that decade's most profitable comedy.
