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Dan Aykroyd Still Hopeful for His 'Ghostbusters' Sequel to Happen

Even though Ghostbusters 3 has been in development for years, the forthcoming revival of the classic paranormal comedy franchise is coming in the form of a reboot from The Heat director Paul Feig and the film's writer Katie Dippold. And as we already know, this time our four main characters will be female, played by Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones. However, just because Columbia Pictures decided to go in another direction to bring back Ghostbusters, that doesn't mean we won't see another iteration, because Dan Aykroyd still has hopes to utilize his gestating ideas too.

Aykroyd recently appeared on the Sirius XM program "Unmasked with Ron Bennington," and when the topic turned to Ghostbusters, the franchise's creator, writer and star praised Feig's script and new approach to the series. But he also doesn't think that his ideas are dead in the water for more Ghostbusters adventures. If this reboot works, it sounds like Aykroyd wants to incorporate some of his past ideas into the series. Here's what Aykroyd had to say (from The InterroBang, via SlashFilm):

"Oh I’ve written… well, we have…I’ve written, well, there’s three drafts of the old concept that exists. And we’re going to be able to salvage some of it and use it. Yeah, we’re gonna be able to use it some day. Let’s get this one made and that will reinvigorate the franchise and then we’ll go on to maybe doing a more conventional third sequel as we were planning and another idea I have for it."

But again, this reboot has to stick the landing first, and Aykroyd is hopeful and confident it'll work. He says:

"I can tell you, as the originator, I’m very happy with what [Feig’s] done. It’s very tasteful. And it needed a reworking. The thing needed a new engine. You know? It needed new exhaust. It needed new steering. And this is what we’re getting.

The real reality in fact of the third movie with this tremendous cast of women, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones and Kristen Wiig. . . I’ve got three daughters, so I’m all for female empowerment….[Feig] establishes the voices beautifully in these characters. Now of course, he’s got masters playing the roles for him, so this is going to really work in our favor for the third movie."

As far as that last part is concerned, I think Aykroyd just means the audience is going to like what Feig is doing as opposed to it effecting the future of what would have been Ghostbusters 3. It sounds like any ideas Aykroyd might have had to continue the original path of the Ghostbusters will be used for this new franchise. Or maybe he'll use them for spin-offs, especially since he believes Ghostbusters can be used to create a Marvel Studios style universe. Columbia Pictures seems to agree since they have discussed plans to get a male group of Ghostbusters together sometime after this all-female reboot happens, with Ryan Gosling, Chris Pratt and Channing Tatum being eyed for the project.

As for the reboot, I'm being cautiously optimistic. Feig is pretty gifted when it comes to female driven comedy, but something like Ghostbusters is a whole different kind of movie, even if it's a reboot and not exactly a remake. Anyway, Columbia Pictures has the film set for release on July 22nd, 2016.

Reader Feedback - 6 Comments

I would rather watch someone's use of those Lego Ghostbusters in something than this reboot.

Steven on Feb 18, 2015

2

once again his wish threatens to destroy everything you love and hold dear.
This time, not in the form of a giant Michelin Man made of marshmallows.

Dan Hibiki on Feb 18, 2015

3

For fuks sake, LEAVE IT ALONE ALREADY !!!

Tester on Feb 18, 2015

4

I'd like if Sony would let him make maybe a Ghostbusters short that was a bit tender and had a little bit of story. I don't need it to be a big spectacle is what I'm saying - but I do want to see them in the suits fighting a ghost one more time.