Columbia TriStar Calling the Ghostbusters?

We got one! Or will that be three? Internet rumors have been abuzz over a Ghostbusters 3 for close to - if not more than - a decade now. These rumors have certainly picked up steam in the last 18-24 months with comments from Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis as well as the leak of a developmental Ghostbusters game in January 2007. Things started rolling even more in November when it was officially announced that there indeed was a Ghostbusters video game in the works for the Next-Gen consoles. Sweet! But what about a third film? Aykroyd is on record as saying the new video game, delayed until 2009, is basically the third film; it is part of the Ghostbusters canon. Not so fast my friends. Entertainment magazine Variety has this juicy tidbit for us, posted yesterday...

Columbia Pictures is getting serious about scaring up a new installment of its blockbuster "Ghostbusters" franchise.

The studio has set "The Office" co-exec producers Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky to write a script for a film designed to bring back together the original cast of Harold Ramis, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson.

Studio would not comment on the development and has been mum on recent rumors that there was interest in making another installment of the franchise.

Before anyone gets too excited there are plenty of obstacles to get this movie made. We all know about the documented aversion by Bill Murray, a necessary actor, to another live-action film. Variety also points out the things that have stalled a third movie before...

An attempt to make a third installment of the franchise was stymied in the dealmaking stage. Sources said so much gross was pledged to the participants that it was next to impossible for the studio to make any money on a third installment.

No deals will be made with the original cast until the script is ready, but the gross percentage will certainly be an issue. Sony has a standing policy not to allow more than 25% of first dollar gross out the door.

In an ideal world this would all work out and we can get ready to see the Ghostbusters back in action on the big screen in, oh, I don't know, 2012? I know there are fans that don't want another movie made, mostly because they felt Ghostbusters 2 was rushed and nowhere near as good as the #1. I love tradition and don't want anything to taint the franchise. But there is clearly enough fans and interested parties out there to make this happen. Despite the potential for a flop, I most certainly want a third movie. It can be done.

The recent rumors on new actors in the movie has revolved around the Apatow gang, which has included Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, Amy Poehler, Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, and even Will Ferrell. That is a lot of quality comedy acting. I wouldn't mind an attempt at the whole "original Ghostbusters train new Ghostbusters" idea. There is substance to it and has the potential to be a HUGE hit.

Moving on. In other Ghostbusters news, on YouTube Steven Jay is compiling a list of 1001 movies you should see before you die. At #716 is Ghostbusters (note: number does not indicate rank; ranks are arbitrary).



Besides Entertainment Weekly naming Ghostbusters the funniest movie of the last 25 years, SciFi is counting down the "10 Ways to Destroy New York". Coming at #10 is the use of the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man...

10. Ghostbusters (1984). The giant Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man invades the Upper West Side in the climax of this classic comedy caper. Dan Aykroyd spent the whole first day of shooting driving around the city in his customized Ectomobile. The Ghostbuster headquarters was Firehouse Number 8 in Tribeca; all of the college scenes were filmed at Columbia University. Director Ivan Reitman wanted to film the marshmallow man next to the Statue of Liberty but scrapped the idea when it proved too difficult. Five years later, in the sequel Ghostbusters II, he got his wish: The Statue of Liberty got her own supporting role.

The age of Blu-Ray movies is supposed to be the end of this year and last for a few years. The next big craze? Movies on USB drives. And when this comes to fruition in, say, 2011, you can always remind everyone which movie was the first ona a USB stick. That's right, Ghostbusters.

Finally, it is being speculated that Sony has found a new publisher for Ghostbusters: The Video Game and it has been all but stated that it will be released in 2009, most likely by the summer. Here is what a hush-hush Sony worker told Proton Charging...

We are close to announcing the new video game partner. It’s been a wild last couple weeks. Tell the fans all will be okay. The game will have to ship in 2009. Even if we had a partner on board in august, it’s almost impossible to meet the oct date. The game has to go thru various approvals at sony playstation, microsoft, nintendo. Retailers cannot react as well, tv ad space is closed. Lastly, we are also going to use the time to work and fine tune development of the game.

Proton Charging says in their article that they believe the announcement from Sony will come in the next 2 weeks. This was posted on Labor Day so we are now down to 10 days. Proton Charing believes it will be Atari or Electronic Arts Partners. I don't care who handles the publishing. Just get me the game!