According to Ivan Reitman, you really shouldn’t listen to Ivan Reitman, because he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Confused? Join the club.
Months after he spoke at length about Sony’s plans for the Ghostbusters cinematic universe, Reitman has now sent an email around to us movie websites explaining that there is only one Ghostbusters in development, and it’s the one being directed by Paul Feig. What’s troubling about that is that Reitman and others, including scribe Drew Pearce, have directly contradicted this.
Reitman’s emailed statement reads:
There has been a lot of excitement recently about what is happening with the Ghostbusters franchise. As the producer of the new Ghostbusters film, I feel the need to clarify. There is only one new Ghostbusters movie and that is the Paul Feig directed version coming next July, presently filming and going fantastically. The rest is just noise.
And here’s what he said a few months back:
We want to expand the Ghostbusters universe in ways that will include different films, TV shows, merchandise, all things that are part of modern filmed entertainment. This is a branded entertainment, a scary supernatural premise mixed with comedy. Paul Feig’s film will be the first version of that, shooting in June to come out in July, 2016. He’s got four of the funniest women in the world, and there will be other surprises to come. The second film has a wonderful idea that builds on that. Drew will start writing and the hope is to be ready for the Russo Brothers’ next window next summer to shoot, with the movie coming out the following year. It’s just the beginning of what I hope will be a lot of wonderful movies.
That sure sounds like more than “just noise.” From the amount of talk surrounding the Russo Brothers’ all-male Ghostbusters movie (possibly starring Chris Pratt and Channing Tatum), including Reitman’s own words, it’s ridiculous for him to expect us to dismiss the project out of hand.
Of course, it makes sense why he’d want us to. Talking about Ghostbusters as a big franchise involving a movie with an all-male team well before Feig’s own film, which is proudly unveiling an all-female lineup, takes a bit of the wind out of that first project’s sails. Feig is doing something pretty ballsy by gender-swapping the Ghostbusters, and it makes sense that Reitman and company would want the press to focus all its attentions there.
Additionally, it’s still possible that deals are falling through on the Russo Brothers’ Ghostbusters movie, so Reitman doesn’t want everyone to get riled up about it before it’s confirmed to even happen. But as for Reitman trying to clarify matters by going back on his previous statement, the producer is just overcomplicating matters for himself. And suggesting that the “noise” he’s talking about originated anywhere other than from his own words to the press is flat-out ludicrous.
For now, though, only Feig’s Ghostbusters movie is firmed up, with a release date of July 22, 2016. Pearce recently clarified his previous discussion of a script for the Russos’ film by sending out the below tweet, which just goes to show how sensitive Sony and company are being about keeping the spotlight on Feig’s pic.
Also, I’ve only written a bible (because I have to go off and direct my own stuff). No script yet. So news cycle: CHILL YOUR BOOTS.
— Drew Pearce (@mrdrewpearce) July 29, 2015
We’ll keep you posted with the latest on the Ghostbusters franchise (?) as we have it.
