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It seems that Ghostbusters 3 maybe crawling inch by inch out of its damnation in development hell and towards one day finding a place as the third incarnation of spectre hunters on our cinema screens. However, the ‘Threeboot’ may not feature the same ghoul gatherers that captured our imaginations and all those phantoms back in ’84 and ’89.
With such time passing since 1989’s first sequel – an unbelievable 25 years, in fact – and it being the 30th anniversary of the original’s release, the third instalment was always going to require some massive rewrites or plot twists around characters being the ghosts the gang are busting; but that seems pretty distasteful since the sad passing of Harold Ramis aka Egon Spengler.
Over the last couple of years, the story of Ghostbusters 3’s development has twisted more than a river of pink slime running under the streets of New York. Each member of the team has given their opinion on the likelihood of a third instalment and the form it may take.
“The studio is in, and we have writers working on it as we speak. We’re hoping to film at the beginning of next year,” Ivan Reitman, director of parts one and two, told Toronto Life.
“Dan Aykroyd (Dr. Raymond “Ray” Stantz) and I meet about once a month to talk about it.” On a movie sequel without Harold Ramis and Bill Murray, Reitman was quoted as saying. “He’s publicly said no, but Bill and I have done six movies together, and whe never says yes until literally just before the shoot.”
This has thrown up an intriguing development in Sony Pictures’ planning. It has been suggested in this era of Hollywood setting its sights on the purses of ladies across the globe, that they reboot the series with an all-female cast. Now, this may seem gimmicky, but for me it’s a gimmick that could really work. There are so many brilliant female stars, especially comedic actors, working currently and films such as Bridesmaids, The Heat and Pitch Perfect have proven that these films have a market and can make money as they don’t just appeal to a female audience.
Personally, I think that with all ‘potential’ projects such as this, there is every chance it will get bogged down in development only to resurface in another 10 years with names of actors not even working yet, attached to it. As had the film been made 10 years ago and someone suggested an all-female remake of Ghostbusters you would most likely hear the names of the female half of the Friends cast being bandied about. Currently though names such as Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Linda Cardelllini and Emma Stone are being mentioned. I wouldn’t be averse to Sandra Bullock, Sarah Silverman, Rachel McAdams and Rebel Wilson also being considered.
It is Bill Murray the man most resistant to appearing in Ghostbusters 3 that has been most vocal in praising the concept of an all-female crew of Ghostbusters
“Melissa [McCarthy] would be a spectacular Ghostbuster,” he told The Toronto Sun. “And Kristen Wiig is so funny – God, she’s funny! I like this girl Linda Cardellini a lot, and Emma Stone is funny. There are some funny girls out there.”
Speaking to Yahoo! News, Wiig’s response when told about Murray recommending her for a role in the rumored movie was: “That’s very flattering. I guess they’re making one from what I hear, which is pretty great. I will do whatever Bill Murray tells me to”
McCarthy also responded to the rumours in the Toronto Star: “Oh, my God, that’s daunting. That’s taking on a legend, a legendary movie. But I would do anything with those ladies, anything at all,” she said.
Perhaps the female cast speculation has been spawned by the strongest rumour of all, that filmmaker Paul Feig, director of Bridesmaids has been connected to the potential project.
Reitman, who directed and produced the first two Ghostbusters instalments, spoke with HuffPost Live’s Ricky Camilleri on 5th September and said he’s fairly certain Feig will get the job.
“I know that the studio is negotiating with Paul, and I think it’s probably going to work out” he said. “There were always going to be women involved in the next iteration of ‘Ghostbusters.’ Paul seems to be the perfect director to sort of bring that about.”
Conversely in an interview back in June of this year Sigourney Weaver, star of the first two Ghostbusters movies, revealed she had discussed a further sequel with Reitman.
She was quoted as saying: “I said, I have one condition – I want my son Oscar to be a Ghostbuster,” and he said, “We’ve already done that.”
Of course actors make statements all the time which seem to have been broadcast from another galaxy. Plus with the 25 years of debate over a third instalment in the franchise there have been endless debates over scripts, cast and directors. So, order yourself a truckload of salt and prepare yourself to shovel it over your shoulder when further Ghostbusters 3 rumours surface.
Another star of the original Ghostbusters films, Ernie Hudson aka Winston Zeddemore, in an interview with Comic Book Resources, said: “It’s still on track, and I just saw Ivan about two weeks ago. And he says ‘on track,’ but he didn’t say that with a lot of confidence, so I don’t know! [Laughs]. I’m like, ‘OK …’ But I’d love to see that happen. Fans deserve it, and it would be great.”
Whatever the truth Sony Pictures is eyeing an early 2015 production start in New York for the Ghostbusters new movie. This could see a release date of late 2015 or early 2016. It will also give Sony the potential to work another franchise as they seem to enjoy doing with film series such as James Bond, Spider-Man, Men in Black and having already commissioned a sequel to the still-to-be-released film The Equalizer.
So, what about other all-female remakes of classic ‘Boys films’?
How about an all-female Expendables with Helen Mirren, Judi Dench, Sigourney Weaver, Susan Sarandon, Maggie Smith, Cate Blanchett, Emma Thompson, Kathy Bates, Demi Moore, Tilda Swinton, Famke Janssen, Julie Andrews, Karen Allen, Uma Thurman, Patricia Arquette, Linda Hamilton, Kate Winslet, Joanna Lumley, Anjelica Huston, Shirley MacLaine and Geena Davis.
Or… Oceans 11 with Meryl Streep, Michelle Pfeiffer, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jodie Foster, Glenn Close, Nicole Kidman, Angela Lansbury, Holly Hunter, Julianne Moore, Frances McDormand and Bette Midler
Or… The A-Team with Daryl Hannah, Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson and Jennifer Hudson.