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Ghostbusters 3's Script Has Been Taken Over By Dan Aykroyd

by Ethan Anderton
October 7, 2010
Source: Vanity Fair

While we've heard rumors and occasional naysaying from Bill Murray about potential for Ghostbusters 3, one of the other paranormal exterminators, Dan Ayrkroyd has been busy driving around the country in his RV promoting his latest entrepreneurial endeavor - Crystal Head Vodka (you know you want it). However, Vanity Fair (via Cinematical) recently caught up with the actor who was nice enough to shoot the shit about the status of the anticipated but slow-moving sequel. The biggest news is that Akyroyd has taken over script writing responsibilities from "The Office" writers/producers Gene Stupnitsky & Lee Eisenberg. More below!

However, Aykroyd is quick to defend the writers for giving him a great jumping off point. Though Bill Murray hasn't had many nice things to say about Stupnitsky and Eisenberg in recent interviews (mainly speaking negatively about their film Year One), it sounds like he's just being a Debbie Downer. Aykroyd comments on Murray's remarks and gives his opinion on the script:

"I think he 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.

Look, Hollywood is in love with any kind of nostalgia that can prove itself to be commercial. But it has to evolve. Now [in Ghostbusters 3] my character’s eyesight is shot, I got a bad knee, a bad hip—I can’t drive that caddy anymore or lift that Psychotron Accelerator anymore, it’s too heavy. We need young legs, new minds—new Ghostbusters; so I’m in essence passing the torch to the new regime, and you know what? That’s totally okay with me."

While Bill Murray's apprehension and worries about returning to an already classic franchise are certainly justified, if Ramis and Aykroyd are taking over the script, then it sounds like the sequel is on the right track. As risky as this venture seems, I'd really like to see what a new team of Ghostbusters can do with the participation of the original team too. If it doesn't work then we don't have to see anymore, but this could turn out to be the start of a new era, and an introduction of Ghostbusters to a whole new generation. The question is whether or not Ivan Reitman will actually end up directing or not. I'm cautiously optimistic for the time-being, and hope to hear some good news down the road. What do you guys think?

Update: We received an email from Vince at FilmDrunk on Friday alerting us that he had spoken to a very trustworthy inside source and actually received clarification on what's happening with Ghostbusters 3, as it's not all exactly as Aykroyd says. Apparently he is involved and the studio will hear his input, but he is not rewriting the script. Stupnitsky and Eisenberg are still working on it and won't be replaced. The big issue, as we've known for a while, is that they're waiting for Bill Murray to officially sign on and he has been sent the latest draft of the script. Now it's all up to him agreeing to star, and if he's in, they may start shooting next year for a release in late 2012 as originally planned.

Explore tags: Movie News, Opinions

Janny

is that crystal head vodka any good? i keep seeing it but its a bit pricy for just the novelty bottle.
http://imurals.com jedibilly

I bet tha crystal head vodka is and a collectible. Maybe it'll make a cameo appearanc in the movie.
Vanilla Giddy-up

Third! If Zach Galifinakis isn't a next-gen ghostbuster then no one should be. Just don't give it to Jack Black! Gawd! Now if you will excuse me, I will go back to geeking up for Tron Legacy: It's like Twilight for geeks!
Jason

The vodka's not bad but you are pretty much paying a premium for a cool-looking glass skull. Unfortunately, my college days of decorating with empty beer and liquor bottles are behind me, so I doubt I would buy it again.
Carl

Sounds like good news to me. The story reminds me of an episode of The Extreme Ghostbusters called "Back In The Saddle". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLYAdiq-DNE
Captain Obvious

First off green light the movie already. It's a legend like Batman and will make a huge profit even if it sucks which is probably won't. For example: Everyone and I mean everyone agrees that Batman and Robin sucked and it still made over 200 million dollars and twice it's budget. A movie that is a sequel and based on such an legend is going to make money no matter what. Bill Murry had a lot to complain about on Letterman since there are always dumb people running studios who should be fired. Whoever is running the studio needs to stop b.s.ing around I think it's a terrible idea to bring in a younger group. Does anyone remember Lethal Weapon 4 when in the script they bitched and moaned about Gibson and Glover's age (they weren't exactly in wheel chairs) and they brought in Chris Rock as a possible spin off replacement. Give me a break!! Who cares. Stick with a sequel with the original actors.
LINKFX

That vodka is some of the smoothest vodka i've ever had the pleasure of injesting! And i got to drink it with a bunch of famous people at an After party that Ackroyd hosted. Was some good shit.
Xerxex

get the film underway!
DRM

I don't know why people always have this mentality that new stuff will somehow ruin the old stuff. They could make a legion of horrible Ghostbusters sequels, and the first two movies will still be great. "Phantom Menace" doesn't make "Empire Strikes Back" a bad movie. So yeah, Dan Ackroyd, right on! Don't be afraid to do something new and open the doors for new talent. And Yeah, we as fans should be open minded to the new film. I know I can't wait for it! ---
DoomCanoe

meh the vodkas decent #4 says it all although my college days are still in there prime... i wouldn't buy it again
Spider

Best news I've heard all week about the entertainment industry! I have the utmost confidence in Dan Aykroyd and Harlold Ramis. Can't wait for, "Ghostbusters 3"!
L

#11 you should, they wrote the original
Carla Börjesson

I hope that they use a hip, young, all-star cast including some of the below names: Penn Badgley, Mischa Barton, Rachel Bilson, Adam Brody, Sophia Bush, Chace Crawford, Miley Cyrus, Thomas Dekker, Kat Dennings, Hilary Duff, Zac Efron, Emile Hirsch, Shia LaBeouf, James Lafferty, Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Taylor Momsen, Chad Michael Murray, Ellen Page, Emma Roberts, Jessica Szohr, Ed Westwick, Evan Rachel Wood, Anton Yelchin. It’ll be great to see Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Rick Moranis, Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts return in supporting roles in 2011. I’m sure it’ll be a complete tribute to the classic two films. I hope that Shia LaBeouf will be the new lead in Ghostbusters III. He would have made a good Ghostbuster. He can definitely play the straight faced smart-ass that Bill Murray was. I hope that they model the title and tagline after Star Trek: Generations (1994) and call the film – ‘Ghostbusters: Generations’ and use the tagline – ‘Two generations. One destiny.’ It would be nice to see Murray, Aykroyd, Ramis and Hudson play mentors to the kids like Bruce Greenwood did in Star Trek as Christopher Pike to James Kirk. Zeddmore: “Your father was captain of a Ghostbusters team for twelve hours.” Spengler: “He saved 800,000 lives, including your mothers and yours.” Stantz: “I dare you to do better.” Venkman: “Enlist in Ghostbusters Academy.” Shia LaBeouf’s character: You’re a scientist? Venkman: Part-time. In my opinion, one or two of the following recognisable actors with comedic experience will probably star in GB 3 in a small role or cameo to support the new, younger generation in their first outing as the new leads of the Ghostbusters film series/franchise: Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell, Ricky Gervais, Simon Pegg, Eddie Izzard, Rowan Atkinson, Owen Wilson, Jack Black, Rob Schneider, Chris Rock, Jeremy Piven, Mike Myers, Jim Carrey, Eddie Murphy, William Shatner, Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin, Tim Allen, Chevy Chase, John Goodman, Billy Connolly, Danny DeVito, Robin Williams, George Lopez, John Cleese, Steve Coogan. But I worry after Ghostbusters 3 comes out and the old cast have taken their final bow and said goodbye, they’ll no doubt be talking about Ghostbusters 4 in which we’ll get yet another tear-filled, overwrought, sentiment laden goodbye.
Cracky

#13, Lolwut.
GerggTown

#13 LoLLLLLL very funny. rowan atkinson?? haha. nice. i like ghostbusters. im not optimistic about this movie.
keymaster

Like #9, I'm realising these sequels will happen no matter what, and the original movies (the original Star Wars movies excepted) will always be there to watch. GB2 was pretty awful in retrospect (though even back in 1990 I remember it as a disappointment), so it'll be interesting to see what they produce with a third one. But it still feels like too much time has passed, and it's not fun to see beloved characters fat and grayed.
keymaster

Additional... Though original movies' reputations are generally unharmed, franchises can be damaged by badly conceived and sloppily made sequels (Star Wars again). In particular, where new generations of viewers are concerned, their first exposure to franchises will be these often poorly-received movies.
bone

I will always be a fan of Dan Ackroyd but this has FAILURE writen all over it....there simply isnt any more water in that well...just another vehicle to make try and make some bucks for a few H'wood old timers....I'll pass...
Please don't kill off Venkman

Please keep the Venkman character alive in GB3 (at least at the movie's end). I don't care who stars in this movie, who's writing the script, etc., if it involves a dead Peter Venkman, it sounds just heartbreaking. Unappealling to say the least, terrible to sound the most. Please don't do that to the fans who grew up appreciating Ghostbusters. That's a pretty mean slap in the face.
Suilebhain

I just hope they avoid using buffoons like Jack Black or Adam Sandler. One of the reasons Ghostbusters played so well is because the cast (with the exception of Murray) played it straight (Murray would probably make jokes at his mother's funeral). For that purpose, getting someone like Colin Hanks (as the new parapsychologist) to head up the team would be a good move, and fill in with younger folk.