Ghostbusters 3 may not be dead yet, as Dan Aykroyd says a script is being written “right now,” and Bill Murray could be convinced to return. Released in 1984, the original Ghostbusters became a pop culture phenomenon as well as a box office hit, thanks in large part to the chemistry between its three lead actors, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray and Harold Ramis. 1989 sequel Ghostbusters 2 was not as beloved as the original, but still did well enough at the box office to open the door to a third installment.
That third Ghostbusters movie has proven a tough project to get going however, in large part because Murray has steadfastly refused to get involved. Eventually, Ghostbusters did return to the big screen of course, in the form of 2016’s gender-swapped reboot. Amid fan backlash against the all-female lead cast, the reboot would come up short at the box office, putting an end to hopes of launching a full-fledged new franchise (at least for now).
Now with the female-centered Ghostbusters universe seemingly on ice, talk is resurfacing of a Ghostbusters 3 that reunites the remaining original cast members. In an appearance on AXS TV’s The Big Interview with Dan Rather (via Ghostbusters News), Ghostbusters star and co-writer Dan Aykroyd talked about the prospects for that sequel to happen, and indicated that things are actually moving forward. “There is a possibility of a reunion with the three remaining Ghostbusters… It’s being written right now," the actor said.
The last time Aykroyd talked about the possibility of a Ghostbusters return, he mentioned wanting to see the team reunite not in a movie but in a Netflix series. Obviously, a full Ghostbusters reunion - in movie form or otherwise - is impossible, as original cast member Ramis has passed away. Then there’s the question of whether Murray, who for years has been against the idea of making another sequel, would consent to appear in the new project. According to Aykroyd at least, Murray could be talked into coming back. “I think Billy will come. The story’s so good. Even if he plays a ghost," Aykroyd said. Murray did of course return to the reboot for a cameo appearance, as did Aykroyd, Annie Potts, Ernie Hudson and Sigourney Weaver, but that’s not quite the same thing as committing to an entire film or series.
Having heard many rumors over the years about a possible Ghostbusters 3 with the original cast, fans will no doubt greet Aykroyd’s latest remarks with a great deal of skepticism. Then again, in the new landscape that’s been created by streamers like Netflix, perhaps some kind of Ghostbusters return isn’t impossible. Maybe the new script is as good as Aykroyd suggests, and perhaps there’s a willingness by Netflix or someone else to make something happen. At the same time, there’s certainly an argument to be made that the time for an original cast Ghostbusters reunion has long-since passed, especially now that Ramis is no longer around.
More: What Ivan Reitman’s Future Ghostbusters Movie Would Look Like
Source: AXS TV (via Ghostbusters News)
