I’ve been waiting for Ghostbusters III to be made since 1990. I’ll let that sink in for a moment. True, I didn’t know generally movies aren’t usually fast tracked (its in an industry term) just like that. My 12 year old self thought about it, figured out the necessary logistics (even though I didn’t know that word yet) and crunched the really easy numbers. The conversation with myself went something like this:
If it took Ghostbusters II 5 years to get made, then Ghostbusters III will be made by 1995.
Going around in circles about why it was taking so long (in the pre internet days) about why the “easiest” movie to be made wasn’t could get frustrating. I’m less then a month away from boarding a train (what train, what are you talking about?) to leave 35 behind. I still remember walking home from school in the early 1990s thinking and feeling “Ghostbusters III.”
As much as I’ve talked about Ghostbusters III on and off-line, regardless of the countless rumors, tidbits, actual news, cheerleading, and the same quotes from Harold, Dan, Ivan, Ernie, (whose always the last to know) and on the rare occasion Bill I’ve taken a “wait and see; and believe it when it actually happens” approach.
When I started my Ghostbusters sites which have evolved in a decade +, for the most part I didn’t share so called Ghostbusters III news. I made that decision, leaving those updates to Ghostbusters news sites and for fan discussion. I knew when I did a comfortable refresh on what was Ghostbusters International during the 30th Anniversary of Ghostbusters, either the studio or people who were actually involved with Ghostbusters could talk about and provide real insight.
I didn’t think about it immediately, once Harold Ramis passed on some movie sites, some similar sites, and some fans would jump in the tides making Ghostbusters III news waves. The worse of course is the “tabloid culture” that just has to ask Ghostbusters ‘alumni’ about it. It wasn’t even a month yet.
When I see interviews, sometimes from suspicious sites that plagiarize or take things out of context its an easy pass not to read a flood of web sites. Even when trusted, yet by now cautious Ghostbusters sites share those site’s articles. I had intended to entirely dismiss Ivan Reitman talking about Ghostbusters III. After all, he’s talked about it before. I thought the latest was “copy and paste journalism” made to look new from previous interviews.
Like any intelligent person and fan I read the interview and decided for myself.
Movie site Deadline spoke to Ivan Reitman, for the first time in a long time I feel this is legitimate. Going forward I’ll only report on Ghostbusters III if it seems like their are actual developments.
About Two Ghostbusters III Scripts and Bill Murray
The first [script] was done by Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, and me, Harold [Ramis] and Dan [Aykroyd] helped them on it. It was a really good script, but then it became clear that Bill really didn’t want to do another Ghostbusters and that it was literally impossible to find him to speak to for the year or two we tried to get it going. When Bill finally…well, he never actually said no, but he never said yes, so there was no way to make that film. We decided to start over again, and I started working with Etan Cohen, with Dan lending a helping hand. Harold got sick about three years ago, and we kept hoping he would get better. I kept pushing forward on the Etan Cohen and we now have a draft that is very good, that the studio is very excited about.
Personal Thoughts, Current Project, Not Directing Ghostbusters III
When I came back from Harold’s funeral, it was really moving and it made me think about a lot of things. I’d just finished directing Draft Day, which I’m really happy with and proud of. Working on a film that is smaller and more dramatic was so much fun and satisfying. I just finally met with Amy and Doug Belgrad when I got back. I said I’d been thinking about it for weeks, that I’d rather just produce this Ghostbusters. I told them I thought I could help but let’s find a really good director and make it with him. So that’s what we’ve agreed will happen. I didn’t want all kinds of speculation about what happened with me, that is the real story.
Sony Supports Ivan Reitman
We totally understood. He was thinking he might feel that way when Harold died, and then came back to us and confirmed it, that while he was excited to return and make the movie as producer, but did not feel he wanted to direct the movie. We are delighted to work with Ivan on this movie in that capacity. We love him, and he’s going to continue to play an important role. We’re very anxious to get the movie started.
New Ghostbusters Cast, Possible Start Date
I’m not going to say how many Ghostbusters there will be in the new cast, but we are determined to retain the spirit of the original film, and I am pleased that all of this seems to have happened organically,” “I’m hoping we can get started by the fall, set in New York, but given the logistics and the stuff that happens, the beginning of 2015 seems more likely.
Read the interview in its entirety.
Photo Source: Geek News Network
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