Dan Aykroyd Talks Ghostbusters 3

According to funnyman Dan Aykroyd, co-star of iconic horror/comedy Ghostbusters and its sequel, there will definitely be a Ghostbusters 3 with or without the involvement of Bill Murray. In an interview with Dennis Miller radio, Aykroyd said Ghostbusters 3 was a go, and he mentioned it will effectively pass the Ghostbusters torch to a younger generation.

After suggesting that Ghostbusters 3 will happen with or without the participation of Murray (Dr. Peter Venkman), Aykroyd went on to mention that Ghostbusters is bigger than any one component, and it’s time to pass the franchise down to new blood.

Yes, we will be doing the movie and hopefully with Mr. Murray. That is our hope. We have an excellent script. What we have to remember is that Ghostbusters is bigger than any one component, although Billy was absolutely the lead and contributive to it in a massive way, as was the director and Harold [Ramis], myself and Sigourney Weaver. The concept is much bigger than an individual role and the promise of Ghostbusters 3 is that we get to hand the equipment and the franchise down to new blood.

I, for one, have very fond memories of the first Ghostbusters, and I didn’t hate the second one either (though, obviously, it was not as great as the original). The idea of a third installment in this franchise has me excited, mostly because it will (hopefully) have all the original talent behind it. This “passing the torch” stuff might work if the original cast is there to do it up right.

Aykroyd played the lovable tubby Ray in the original. His character will be a little different in Ghostbusters 3 and he also mentioned some new characters would appear.

My character, Ray, is now blind in one eye and can’t drive the cadillac. He’s got a bad knee and can’t carry the packs… Egon (Ramis) is too large to get into the harness. We need young blood and that’s the promise. We’re gonna hand it to a new generation.

I like this guy Matthew Gray Gubler from the Criminal Minds show. But there’s going to be a casting. We’re going to see everyone that wants to do it. We’re going to need… three guys and a young woman.

Sounds like an exciting prospect to me, the possibility of three fresh ghostbusters and a new “Dana Barrett” (Weaver). What do you think of a Ghostbusters 3?