The internet lost it this week when it was revealed out of the blue that a new Ghostbusters movie is happening. Ignoring the 2016 reboot and following on from the original beloved 1980s films, the upcoming pic, which you can either call Ghostbusters 3 or 4, depending on your own tastes, will be directed by Jason – son of original director Ivan – Reitman.
Though Ecto-fans were shocked and excited (well, mostly) by the news, we should’ve been prepared for it, as Dan Aykroyd already told us that a new Ghostbusters movie was in the works last year. While chatting on The Big Interview With Dan Rather, Aykroyd – who played Ray Stantz in the series – explained at the time that “really good filmmakers” were hard at work on the script.
“I think we have a story that’s going to work and it’s being written right now by really good filmmakers. I can’t say their names.”
It’s difficult to say whether he was talking about Reitman and co-scriptwriter Gil Kenan or perhaps some other team that were working on the project before, but Aykroyd certainly seemed confident in what these filmmakers would produce and had faith that they could rejuvenate the franchise for modern audiences.
“They’re a good team and they are making an effort to bring back all the emotion and spirit of the first two movies and then take it into the 21st century with a vernacular that’s needed today to get it across.”
If Aykroyd was talking about Reitman and Kenan, then that bodes well for their take on Ghostbusters. The teaser trailer that went with the announcement didn’t give much away, but it definitely gave fans a thrill to see the original Ecto-1 van again. Even if we’ve no idea why it’s abandoned in a barn.
We don’t yet know for sure if Aykroyd, Bill Murray and Ernie Hudson will be involved at all, but what we can tell you for now is that 2020’s Ghostbusters will focus on a “passing of the torch” to a new generation of heroes, who certainly ain’t afraid of no ghosts.
