'Ghostbusters' back from the great beyond?

OK, I can't resist: Who you gonna call?

Believe it or not, the answer might be the Ghostbusters. This just in from a Variety article:

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.

The scribes just wrote "Year One," a comedy that was directed by Ramis. Ramis with Aykroyd wrote the first two installments of the films. Ivan Reitman directed both the 1984 original and the sequel that was released in 1989. The close proximity between the writers and original Ghostbuster Ramis is evidence that the ghost chasers have sparked to the idea of returning.

"Ghostbusters" was Columbia's highest grossing film ever, until it was beaten by "Men in Black" and then "Spider-Man." 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.

There was a lot of talk down at Comic-Con International about a new "Ghostbusters" movie and it seemed like the natural place to announce it considering Aykroyd and Hudson were scheduled to appear at a panel promoting the upcoming video game based on the 1980s paranormal comedy. But the two stars ended up not appearing (it was probably the biggest cancellation at this year's Con; I know I was bummed because I had an interview scheduled with Aykroyd on site).

On that "Ghostbusters" video game, Film Junk had a recent piece saying that its publishing status is in flux, and a scheduled Halloween release is no longer an option. Next year marks the 25th anniversary of the first film, so a delay will at least dovetail with the mandatory tie-in celebration.

Aykroyd has been pushing for a new "Ghostbusters" film for years now and has floated the idea of doing a computer-generated version (a la "Star Wars: Clone Wars" or "Beowulf"). If it were an animated film, that would certainly lower the cast costs that the Variety article refers to.

-- Geoff Boucher

"Ghostbusters" photo from the Los Angeles Times archive and courtesy of Columbia Pictures.

Comments

[St Pooch]

The Ghost Buster!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ROCKS.

[geekgirlie]

after all the heartache that the Watchmen's legal fiasco is putting us through, its a welcome relief to see the movie that i and so many like me grew up on come back in the wake of some pretty awful remakes these past couple years. i am enthralled that the original cast wants to come back into it too. to be honest though, it wont do the job if the movie is all CGI, or if they get younger cast members to do it. im sorry but Murry is the only one who can pull off Peter Venkman. end of story.

[Gary]

If they do it as an animated film they might as well go direct to DVD. Filmgoers want to see real actors, really acting.

[Caroline]

I'm not big on animation but a new "original actors" movie would be awesome! I think the world is ready for another "Ghostbusters". Cinema has elevated to such a new and wonderous level in special effects - since the last "Ghostbusters" was made - I think there's a big horizon to what can be done/included in a new installment of "Ghostbusters". I'd love to see another and I think a lot of people would also - with the same cast back again. Please. The same cast. I don't think it would be as popular if the same guys didn't come back again. The chemistry was way too good.

[Geoff Boucher]

Gary, you wrote that "If they do it as an animated film they might as well go direct to DVD. Filmgoers want to see real actors, really acting." I think it's a valid point of view, but (just to play devil's advocate) doesn't the success of the "Shrek" films suggest that moviegoers will not only go see a fantastical comedy, they will do so in massive numbers?
The "Shrek" franchise has pulled in more than $1 billion at theaters. And "Shrek 2" is the fourth highest-grossing film in the history of American movies.

[Gary E]

Of COURSE it will now be made - -

Bill Murray needs the cash for his divorce settlement and sky diving expeditions.

[Pasnat54]

It's one thing if a film franchise has never existed in anything but animated form. But to take a live-action film and make it animated implies, perhaps unfairly, a couple things:

First, that they didn't want to spend the money to do the film up right or pay the cast, so they settled for something less costly.

Second, that the franchise has run out of adult-level ideas and so is being dumbed down for a less discriminating audience... much of which will be children.

As I said, these may be unfair or inaccurate assumptions, but I bet they will be prevalent.

[Geoff Boucher]

Pasnat54: Those are two excellent points; "The Clone Wars" certainly could be considered evidence of both.

[Finally some civility!]

To Geoff and Pasnat54:

Yours are the first comments I've read in all my internet surfing today that were intelligent and articulate and not at all hostile. You both came in with different points and had an adult discussion without the immaturity and rudeness that is rampant in most comment threads. (And you both had very good points).

So, thank you for restoring a little bit of confidence in people being able to express themselves without being total idiots. I think you just made my day. :)

[ian]

I would love to see another sequel to ghost busters, except that i have one MINOR concern. Did anyone see what harold ramis looks like now? the guy has seriously got to lose some weight and shoot up some botox before he even thinks about playing egon. About 1/2 the crew can probably get away with assuming their original roles, while the others will need a little more work. If harrison ford and slyvester stallone can do it i guess anybody can do it.

The age concerns alone justifies consideration in a cgi film

[pj]

with the new cgi,busters will rule

[pj]

with the new cgi,busters will rule