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Bill Murray Open to the Third Ghostbusters Movie

by Alex Billington
October 6, 2008

By the end of the year I'm sure all four of the original Ghostbusters will be asked about this. Ever since the news broke in early September that a third Ghostbusters movie was being written, journalists have been scrambling for any morsel of info that they can. Bill Murray was the most recent to be asked about the sequel and gave a rather interesting update to journalists this past weekend in New York City (via SciFi). In addition to mentioning that "the third one could happen," Murray told a rather discouraging story about how Ghostbusters II came about. "The second one was kind of disappointing," he explained, because the idea that was pitched originally was changed entirely by the time he got to set to start work.

As was later confirmed, "The Office" writers Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky have been hard at work on a script. Murray himself confirms "there's two fellows from 'The Office' that are writing a script, but I've yet to see it." Murray's not involved yet, "but it's possible," he says. "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." We've also already heard from Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis previously, which leaves Ernie Hudson and Ivan Reitman as the only guys missing. As for that story about Ghostbusters II, let's just let Murray tell it himself.

"We did a sequel, and it was sort of rather unsatisfying for me, because the first one to me was the goods," Murray said. "It was the real thing. And the sequel, you know, was … 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 added, "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 kind of disappointing … for me, anyway."

So that second movie wasn't actually the one that we were originally supposed to see? I don't know about everyone else, but I grew up a bigger fan of the second one than the original. Maybe it's because it had the creepy guy in the painting and that crazy pink ooze that brought the Statue of Liberty to life. Anyway, getting back to Ghostbusters 3, as I said earlier in the Sunday Discussion, this reboot of the franchise may only be as good as we're all hoping if Judd Apatow gets involved. And even if they switch the story up to focus on a younger group of kids, all the original guys need to come back - there's no question about that. Thankfully it sounds like they will all return - from Aykroyd to Hudson to Murray to Ramis.

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19 Comments

hands down...Ghostbusters 1 was the better of the two films because of its originality, story progression, music, and comedy.

Matt Suhu on Oct 6, 2008

You preferred the second movie? It was terrible.

Vole on Oct 6, 2008

Why is Judd Apatow's involvment so key? Besides Superbad his other movies are terrible, they are full of cheap laughs. Granted superbad was too I just prefered it to Knocked up and 40 Year Old Virgin. He has made 3 films and all of a sudden his is considered the go to guy. Can someone please explain Judd Apatow to me? Bring back Ivan Rietman, or get Chris Columbus or some one else with a proven track record involved.

WB EXEC on Oct 6, 2008

The second movie wasn't "terrible" but it sure was a let down from the first. GB2 had many of the bad signs of sequelitis. It's still infinitely watchable though.

kevjohn on Oct 6, 2008

Oh, and it's great news that Murray's wanting to be involved in a third one. It def. wouldn't be the same without him.

kevjohn on Oct 6, 2008

No mention of Sigourney Weaver coming back then? Although, knowing her, she'll probably demand more money than the whole cast put together. But, it'd be great to get her back in the frame.

danny80uk on Oct 6, 2008

for all the bluster in the beginning of GB2 nothing really happened in the climax. with GB1 we got the Stay Puft Marshmallow man and the Terror Dogs, in 2 the biggest thing we got was a walking statue of liberty and pink slime. i would really like to see what was really intended to happen but he didn't touch on it in that interview. i'm hoping there would be a third part just because i love the original so much.

The Delightful Deviant on Oct 6, 2008

Awesome! I hope they at least consider that idea that Murray was talking about. If they do it similar to the 1st one, it will rock and all fanboys will be pleased. I'm ecstatic about this one. GB2 wasn't all that, it was just ok!

Spider on Oct 6, 2008

I agree with WB EXEC (#3). What's the big deal with Apatow? He'll turn into something raunchy. Get the originals back, and the 3rd film will be great!

Lefthanded on Oct 6, 2008

If they modernize it, it'll be worthy... I saw the original a couple weeks ago and it was VERY 80's in terms of the timing, delivery and sense of humor. Still funny, but really 80's. If they go with the original formula they'll get "Evolution," but if they can give it some legs in a good storyline, good ghost sequences (maybe even scary-ish??) and let the actors ad-lib a little, i see it being a really good movie.

jmoney on Oct 6, 2008

Judd Apatow provided a bit of a let down with PE. the other three however were more amazing than i thought they could ever have been. Knocked up and Superbad became more than what you would have expected, while PE gave me exactly what I expected from that kind of story line, and so I was a bit let down. As for GB2, I loved the end with the walking statue of liberty. Probably one of the coolest scenes for a kid growing up in North Jersey. However, I do agree that the first was better, but the 2nd is forever rewatchable. Here's to either no GB3 or a GB3 that matches the greatness of the original.

dave13 on Oct 6, 2008

What about Louis? He needs to be be in it too, bring them all back, well maybe not Sigourney Weaver LOL

Matt on Oct 6, 2008

Judd Apatow is great because the movies he's involved with are extremely filling, they're not only hilarious but the stories and the way they're delivered add MORE to it, like Knocked Up wasn't just a bro movie, it was a touching romantic comedy that I found to be pretty cute. Superbad wasn't just a bro movie, it was a coming of age story that was about two life long friends having to part ways because of college. Pineapple Express wasn't just a bro movie, it was a story of friendship and how you can find friendship in the oddest of places. Those are just three examples, his other works all follow that same trend of having more to offer than just laughs, and when it comes to laughs there are PLENTY of them. You won't find plenty of laughs in any new age Adam Sandler or Mike Meyers movies. Judd Apatow IS the new face of comedy in this day and age, and even Kevin Smith, who was a leading name in comedy in the 90's-early 2000's, knows that he's been defeated as he's using Judd Apatow's actors in his next movie.

Kail on Oct 6, 2008

If you like Ghostbusters 2 more than the brilliant original, then you must have been born in the late 1980s and weren't around in 1984. The sequel is watchable, but every time it's disappointing. (Alex is a Judd Apatow cheerleader, but the looks of it.)

avoidz on Oct 6, 2008

pfffffft over it! Too much BS.... reboot the damn thing!!!

werdnafaz on Oct 7, 2008

Judd Apatow and Ghostbusters? Here's a premonition of the movie poster...Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, Harold Ramis and Dan Akroyd, pictured from the waist up, looking clueless/startled/stoned, and staring straight at the camera.

Nathan on Oct 7, 2008

I can see the poster now, #16...

avoidz on Oct 7, 2008

I liked the 2nd one better, most def! I liked how the titanic came back and when they went into the subway and winston gets ran over by a ghost train! that was sick! They better bring back luis and jeanine! And i hope they dont focus on younger kids either because i grew up watching those movies and im now 24 if i gotta sit through like an entire CG movie i'll be pissed just like i was for the TMNT movie!

Erin on Oct 20, 2008

I remember back when GB2 came out. I was completely with that movie until the Statue of Liberty bit. It was a fairly entertaining flick until then. I always thought it was reaching a bit. Somehow I can buy the Stay Puff't marshmellow man, but the SoL with the Nintendo controller - ehhh. I'm conflicted about GB3. Love to see it, but I am afraid of it ruining the franchise. Has anyone seen Ramis lately? No way is he running after any ghost.

Snohio on Nov 17, 2008

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