‘Ghostbusters 3′ Writer & Producer Discuss the Bill Murray Factor

As each month passes, the hopeful spring start date for Ghostbusters 3 becomes increasingly unlikely.

While Sony Pictures, Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd and Ivan Reitman have already signed-off on the much revised Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky screenplay, there still remains one final hurdle to overcome… the Bill Murray factor.

Last week, Lee Eisenberg and Ghostbusters 3 producer Joe Medjuck separately discussed the stalled production of the highly-anticipated return of everyone’s favorite parapsychologists. Despite being on opposite sides of the country, both discussions quickly turned to Bill Murray and his reluctancy to sign-off on the Ghostbusters‘ final installment -- or even read the script.

Eisenberg, visiting his alma mater Connecticut College to kick off a series of lectures, talked about the lengthy waiting period they’re in because of Murray:

“Right now, we have a script we haven’t worked on probably in a couple of months, and we’re waiting for Bill Murray to read it. People seem excited about it, and the studio seems high on it. … We’re very proud of it. We worked really hard on it, and I think it’d be a really fun movie.”

Additionally, Eisenberg noted how involved Reitman, Aykroyd and Ramis have been during the writing process, noting that Ramis will now receive a story credit on the film because of it:

“We’ve been working really closely with Ivan Reitman for a couple years on it. Dan Aykroyd has been really involved. Harold Ramis has been very involved -- we’re sharing a story credit on it with him. Then we reworked the script. I mean, that script went through a lot of rewrites, and it kept getting, we think at least, tighter and funnier. It took a little bit to really understand the tone of a movie like Ghostbusters. It’s really scary when you’re writing characters you grew up on. … The last thing you want to do is disappoint.”

On the other side of the country, Ghostbusters 1, 2 & 3 producer (and longtime producing partner of Ivan Reitman) Joe Medjuck attended the Ghostbusters screening at the Arclight Cinema. Following the film’s presentation, Medjuck, along with other members of the Ghostbusters special effects team (including William Atherton), fielded questions from the audience.

Obviously, the first thing that came up was Ghostbusters 3. While Medjuck related similar information regarding Bill Murray, he provided a more in-depth look at the process – or lack there of – that Murray is known for and how Murray didn’t even read the script for the original Ghostbusters until the first day of filming.

“Sony says they’d like to make it, everyone thinks it’s a good script. Bill has heard it’s a good script, but he hasn’t read it. Bill’s like that – he just says he’s busy.

Harold tells a very funny story about the several months it took to get Bill to read the script for Groundhog Day. Every week or so, [Bill] would go up to Harold and say, “You know, I read 10 pages… they’re really good. Is it going to stay this good?”

He hasn’t even read 10 pages [of Ghostbusters 3] yet, to the best of our knowledge.

[Regarding the original Ghostbusters] Bill just committed to it… he just said yes. He went to India to make The Razor’s Edge. I don’t think he even read the script [for Ghostbusters] until he arrived back, [and] the day he came back, we shot with him.”

You can watch the entire Ghostbusters Q&A from the Arclight Cinema below:

Perhaps it’s the fact that Eisenberg and Stupnitsky are behind this screenplay and not Aykroyd, Ramis and Reitman that’s causing much of Murray’s hesitation. The fact that Eisenberg and Stupnitsky’s Year One bombed in theaters certainly can’t help matters.

Whether it be hell or high water, someone needs to find a way to get Murray to at least read the script. As it’s been stated many times before, Murray is one of the five rights holders to Ghostbusters and there can be no movie unless Murray signs-off on it -- even if he doesn’t want to appear in it. Maybe some nice messages on his famed 1-800 number will help sway the comedic genius… or begging. Whatever works.

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Ghostbusters 3 is slated to begin production this spring.

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Source: The Day, Arclight Cinema [via: Proton Charging]

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Rumor Patrol: Dan Aykroyd Talks Anna Faris & Bill Hader for ‘Ghostbusters 3′

Dan Aykroyd talks about ‘Ghostbusters 3' and the possibility of casting Anna Faris and Bill hader in lead roles.

In this writer’s opinion, Ghostbusters 3 is another one of those long-in-development sequels that will probably be, at best, extremely disappointing. Remember Live Free and Die Hard? Remember Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull? Has there ever been an instance of a twenty-year-old sequel that was as good or better than the original?

Still, I’m holding out hope for a miracle, which is precisely what it’ll take for Ghostbusters 3 to be better than Ghostbusters the first. According to Bloody Disgusting, Dan Aykroyd stopped by WGN Radio to chat about, amongst other things, the status of the second Ghostbusters sequel.

Aykroyd confirmed a number of rumors that have been making the rounds across the Internet over the past few weeks. First, yes, they are in the process of casting for the third film — specifically, those actors who will play the new generation of Ghostbusters? — and they’re open to the idea of casting new faces. Second, yes, they are interested in Anna Faris and SNL star Bill Hader, who Aykroyd referred to as “strong possibilities,” though he reiterated nothing was concrete as of yet. Curiously, Will Forte, another SNL veteran who has been rumored to be up for a part, was not mentioned.

This news comes hot on the heels of Entertainment Weekly claiming that the Ghostbusters rumors regarding Anna Fenris, Will Forte, and Bill Hader being cast are just that — rumors and nothing more.

A few things: I absolutely don’t want to watch a Ghostbusters movie sans the very reason I enjoyed the original. Sure, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Bill Murray, and even Sigourney Weaver have all, at the very least, tentatively agreed to be in Ghostbusters 3, but I don’t want to be teased with minor parts from some of my favorite characters ever. A glorified cameo for Bill Murray as Peter Venkman would be worse than no Bill Murray at all (at least in my opinion).

But — if the filmmakers are absolutely determined to pass the Ghostbusters torch to a new generation of human beings, why in the world would they cast members of the least hilarious SNL cast in the history of SNL (…plus Anna Faris)? Stacking Bill Hader and Will Forte, both of whom I generally like,  against the likes of Dan Aykroyd and comedy-god Bill Murray only compounds the fact that there’s no comparison whatsoever.

As a matter of fact, there are only a couple ways I’d be fully onboard with the concept of a new generation of Ghostbusters.

Cast the gang from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I’m not even talking about just casting the actors here, I’m talking about literally plucking the characters from It’s Always Sunny — Mac, Dennis, Dee, Frank, and, of course, Charlie — and making them the new Ghostbusters.Cast a bunch of pretty boys like the Jonas Brothers, Shia LaBeouf, and Justin Timberlake, have them screw the pooch something terrible as the twenty-something Ghostbusters, thus forcing the nigh-on-elderly Ghostbusters – -Egan, Ray, Winston, and Pete — to return in the last forty minutes to save the day.

Whatever happens with Ghostbusters 3, which may begin filming in May 2011, there’s not much we the fans can do but hope that it all turns out for the best. While you read this article, did you manage to come up with an example of a twenty-year-old sequel that was as good as or better than the original? Because I sure didn’t…

Sources: Bloody Disgusting & Entertainment Weekly

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‘Ghostbusters 3′ Casting Call; Is Anna Faris Onboard?

Ghostbusters 3 has shown rejuvenated signs of life over the past few months, and now the project – which has been in some form of development for around two decades now – may actually be moving forward.

Sony Pictures has reportedly sent out a casting call to Los Angeles and Chicago actors for the third Ghostbusters, which apparently could begin production by May 2011.

Here’s the unofficial description of The Office writers Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky’s screenplay for Ghostbusters 3 (via Feature Film Auditions):

A ragtag group of paranormal researchers reopen their notorious ghost removal service, and a new generation of Ghostbusters is brought on board to be green slimed and trained to contain the mischievous spirits.

The Ghostbusters 3 script has apparently been fine-tuned and “handed over to Dan Aykroyd,” which seems to fit with the news that, despite his recent comments to the contrary, the screenplay is NOT being actually rewritten by the comedic actor after all.

While franchise stars Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, and Signourney Weaver are all listed as members of the Ghostbusters 3 cast, actress Anna Faris (the Scary Movie series) is is listed as a star of the flick as well. There’s no information about her role in the pic, but, assuming that this IS legitimate (and, considering the project’s history, it’s impossible not to be skeptical), we should find out more about her part in the near future.

Will Anna Faris appear in 'Ghostbusters 3'?

Ivan Reitman is listed as being back in the director’s chair for the Ghostbuster’s third outing, which we can only hope will be a return to form for the Oscar-nominated filmmaker, who has been at the helm of only three films over the past decade, including the so-so comedy Evolution; the painfully unfunny My Super Ex-Girlfriend; and next January’s rom-com, No Strings Attached.

The “passing the torch to a new generation” storyline of Ghostbusters 3 seems like a risky proposition, given what a pivotal role the onscreen chemistry between Aykroyd, Ramis, and Murray played in the success of Ghostbusters. It’s difficult to envision a whole new crew of comedic talents being brought in for a third film and being able to recapture the sly humor of the original. Plus, is there anyone out there who’s mastered the art of deadpan like Murray?

Sony Pictures is aiming to release Ghostbusters 3 in theaters by Christmas 2012. Do you think they’ll actually keep to that date this time around?

Source: Sony Pictures (via Feature Film Auditions)

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