Dan Aykroyd Talks Script & Casting For “Ghostbusters 3″

"Ghostbusters 3" has been in developmental hell since the early 1990s.  Though "Ghostbusters 2" did not live up to the original, it was still a success and warranted a third film.  Aykroyd wrote a script in the early 90s that centered around the Ghostbusters being transported to a demonic universe with a new crew of younger Ghostbusters.  The film fell through after lack of interest from the rest of main cast, and criticism that the script was not up to the standards of Aykroyd's previous works.  Several aspects from the script were adopted for the unofficial 3rd movie, "Ghostbusters: The Video Game", which proved to be a success.

The script duties fell to the writers of "The Office" with Aykroyd and fellow original writer and co-star Harold Ramis acting as advisers.  This week, Dan Aykroyd called in to "The Dennis Miller Show" and revealed that the project would be moving forward, possibly shooting in Spring, and without Bill Murray if necessary.

"Yes, we will be doing the movie and hopefully with Mr. Murray.  That is our hope. We have an excellent script.  What we have to remember is that 'Ghostbusters' is bigger than any one component, although Billy was absolutely the lead and contributive to it in a massive way, as was the director and Harold Ramis, myself and Sigourney Weaver.  The concept is much larger than any individual role and the promise of 'Ghostbusters 3' is that we get to hand the equipment and the franchise down to new blood."

At one point, Bill Murray had said he'd do the movie if they killed off his character in the first 20 minutes, to which the writers obliged.  Rumor has it that Dr. Venkman would be killed off, but remain as a ghost haunting the Ghostbusters headquarters for the rest of the movie.  Murray was openly dissatisfied with the results of the second movie, but agreed to reprise his role in "Ghostbusters: The Video Game", something he told David Letterman he actually enjoyed.

Aykroyd also went into detail about exactly why the aging Ghostbusters need replacements.

"My character, Ray, is now blind in one eye and can't drive the Cadillac.  He's got a bad knee and can't carry the packs... Egon is too large to get into the harness. We need young blood and that's the promise. We're gonna hand it to a new generation."

As to who will be the new recruits, there is talk that Columbia Pictures is pushing for comedian Aziz Ansari ("Get Him To The Greek", "Thirty Minutes Or Less") to be one of the new crew.  But Aykroyd has his own plans for the new film.

"I like this guy Matthew Gray Gubler from the "Criminal Minds" show.  But there's going to be a casting. We're going to see everyone that wants to do it.  We're going to need... three guys and a young woman."

For the role of the female Ghostbuster, Aykroyd and Ramis have expressed interest in working with Eliza Dushku and Alyssa Milano, who played the lead female in "Ghostbusters: The Video Game".

As a life-long fan, I just hope this goes well.  I really don't want Ansari as a new Ghostbuster.  I just don't find him funny.  He's a part of the new Judd Apatow school of crude humor, and that's not something the "Ghostbusters" films ever were or should be.  As a fan of "Criminal Minds", I'm all for Gubler to be one of the new crew.  As Dr. Reed on "Criminal Minds", he already portrays the awkward intelligence necessary for the movie.  And here's hoping for Eliza Dushku!  Throw in Jason Segel ("How I Met Your Mother") and Craig Robinson ("The Office") and you've got yourself a new crew.

via Nerd Bastards