Prior to a recent Crystal Head vodka signing in San Antonio (interesting aside – they’re about to produce their 1 millionth bottle. They originally only estimated a demand for 3-4 thousand), Dan Aykroyd took a moment to talk to MySanAntonio.com for a bit about all the recent Ghostbusters 3 talk, which continues to strengthen Harold Ramis’ recent comments on the film aiming for a Christmas 2012 release;
“The role of a lifetime has been written for Bill Murray. Contrary to what was in a lot of the press, I did not call him and tell him the ultimatum… ‘don’t be a jerk’. I was quoted as saying, ‘You better get on board.’ I would never ever talk to Billy like that,” he says.
A draft for the new script has been turned in by the young writers assigned by the studio.
“So, if we can pull it off, we’re going to start to work pretty soon,” he says.
He then talked a bit about the level of GB fandom he sees and how he sees it as an indication that a third film is a no-brainer;
“We were reasonably expectant that it would work then. As to its endurance today, I am quite surprised honestly, because I go to signings like I’m doing in S.A. and there’s Ghostbusters at every one of them. Some of them have cars and trucks that they’ve absolutely outfitted with the phone number and lights on them and everything — total packs, jump suits exactly down to the rubber gloves. It’s just really, really a gratifying thing to see and hilarious as well.
“The funniest part is the girlfriends and wives of the Ghostbusters. … I always give them a special kind of, you know, sympathetic hug.”
So, a carrot has apparently been written into the plot of a third film, in order to attract the reticent Murray – whether that carrot is the fabled Ghost Venkman idea or something new (like, say, a father/son/mentor/trainee relationship between Venkman and Oscar) remains to be seen, but one thing is clear; the final days of hammering this out are on now. If they don’t come to some sort of deal that suits all parties in the coming months, it will likely fall apart.
Thanks to Steven Hough for the heads up – someone start a stopwatch and how long it takes for MTV to report this news, with link to SlashFilm, and any reference to PC or MySanAntonio.com removed (narf). Bonus points if Perez Hilton reports it. Man, we could make a game out of this.
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I can see the light… the closest it has ever been.
Bless you, Aykroyd. <3
Dan Aykroy’d gotta be kidding himself. We’re supposed to look forward to a movie that would kill off a key character, much less “Peter Venkman”? I like Bill Murray’s term better: Hogwash. I would be looking forward to Ghostbusters 3, if there were anything to get excited about. There’s not; I hate this movie’s plot. It sounds like a waste, to me.
FINALLY! this is the best pre-birthday GB3 news i could get this year! Thursday is my b-day i now have somewhat a good feeling of relief about this, being my dream movie and all, so, very happy to hear this! thanks guys!
Dan Aykroy’d gotta be kidding himself. We’re supposed to look forward to a movie that would kill off a key character, much less “Peter Venkman”? I like Bill Murray’s term better: Hogwash. I would be looking forward to Ghostbusters 3, if there were anything to get excited about. There’s not; I hate this movie’s plot. It sounds like a waste, to me.
Nobody has ever stated that this is what would happen in a third film. It’s speculation on something Bill Murray has iterated many times since the 90s. So hold your horses before you write it off.
I’m not opposed to a ghost Venkman, but at the end of the film he has to be alive. I’m sure I speak for most fans when I say “I don’t want to live in a world where Peter Venkman is dead.” Murray has pretty much mastered every aspect of comedy. I assume he’s got the brass to start making fun of the dead. But Ghostbusters is perfect. Screwing up that universe would be a huge fck up. I’m sure Sony could do it, “fck it up that is” because Sony is cancer. But if Murray has a hand in this I’m hopeful it will turn out ok. He doesn’t like studio films and would not join in unless it was an actually worth-wild ride. Plus the guy has enough money that he doesn’t Need to do a GB3. As long as he hasn’t sold out to get rid of GB questions I think a third film would be good.
Still hate new recruits though. A very cheap gimmick.
I agree, having new recruits is a cheap gimick–unless they do it right. That means having the originals on screen for most of the movie, alive at the end of the movie. GB4 can parade the new crew, if that’s what Sony’s out to introduce.
It’snot a gimmick. It’s a way to keep the franchise alive after Dan, Harold & Bill are dead or too old to be active in an action/comedy. I mean, they could make a GB w/ new cast with the same characters after they die, but it’d probably turn out too much like GB2, which was good, IMO, but A) a lot of people beg to differ and B) that would get tiresome after awhile…
I can’t believe I get to type this…but I WAS THERE in SA!!! He was so awesome.
Guess he’ll be giving my boyfriend a sympathetic hug.
What a class act.
Special congratulations to the guys at Chrystal Head, glad to see the product’s doing so well.
I feel that this film is now right on the edge of being greenlit by Sony Pictures.
I just hope that the script is good. It sounds a little like they’ve written something into the script specifically to entice Bill Murray into being a part of it. I hope that whatever it is it doesn’t feel tagged on or unecessary to the storyline.
Seems like doing GB again wouldn’t be staying true to his ‘personal brand’ because he’s trying to stay ‘indie/underground.’