Month: February 2012

As always, any Dan Aykroyd talk about a third Ghostbusters has to be taken with a certain amount of analysis. He is always promoting a third film and at any given time he will always talk about what pieces and players are in place. Which is what makes his recent trip to the UK notable. While spending a considerable amount of time correcting reporters that there’s no way Bill Murray would be so callous as to shred any GB3 script sent to him, he was less cheery about the project when talking to the Telegraph;

Will the film ever materialise?

“I honestly don’t know. At this point it’s in suspended animation. The studio, the director Ivan Reitman and Harold Ramis feel there must be a way to do it, but Bill Murray will not do the movie. He doesn’t want to be involved. He’s got six kids, houses all over America. He golfs in these tournaments where they pay him to turn up and have a laugh. He’s into this life and living it. I know we’d have a lot of fun [but] I can’t be mad at him. He’s a friend first, a colleague second. We have a deep personal relationship that transcends business and he doesn’t want to know.”

He’s recently begun to consider recasting Murray’s role with another actor. Or perhaps, I suggest, his character could come back as a ghost in CGI so the actor doesn’t need to give up the golfing? It’s obviously something that has crossed Aykroyd’s mind, but he wonders if Murray would give his approval even to that.

“We’re not going to do a movie that exploits the franchise. The script has to be perfect. I’m the cheerleader, but I’m only one voice in the matter. It’s a surety that Bill Murray will not do the movie, however there is still interest from the studio.” Aykroyd looks pained. It only seems fair to return to a subject that brings him nothing but joy: alcohol.

So, I think we can safely move the Ghostbusters Doomsday clock back from 11 to 9 – this is the first time Ayrkoyd has said anything solid about Murray not being involved. It doesn’t take into account the fact that Murray still holds a stake in the franchise, or that Ivan Reitman holds considerable powers in the making of a third movie, but it is a very different interview than ever before. Let’s hope that if there is in fact a clear “no” from Murray, Sony can finally work to move on the film or shelve it forever.