Ghostbusters 3 a reality? We're ready to believe you.

When I was younger I wanted to be a Ghostbuster, it was my ideal job. Still is today.

For most of our generation Ghostbusters was a film we grew up on. So when rumours fired up again about a third ectoplasmic adventure they were met with mixed emotions.

The child in me, complete with toy proton pack, clutching a plastic ghost trap jumped up and down with glee. Whereas the young-adult having witnessed the brutal treatment of another childhood hero (Indiana Jones) began to have trouble breathing.

So what will a third Ghostbusters film mean for the fans, and just why has it taken so long to arrive?


After years in development hell the thanks for a third GB movie should be paid to the gaming industry. The original treatment, written by Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd (Egon and Ray) would have seen the foursome take on hell.

Well . . . a hell that has become overcrowded, spilling onto the streets of New York. But almost from the get go there were problems. Bill Murray shaped problems.

Murray was unwilling to sign on, sighting the fact that he didn’t want a poor third outing to ruin the reputation of the series. And so the script lay dormant.

Rumours surfaced now and again. A third outing without the original cast, a CGI animated feature without Dr Venkman, but the fire almost died out with Aykroyd at one point ruling out the movie for good.

Real progress was made when test footage for a spookily familiar video game sparked excitement, enough excitement to rouse the elusive Murray.

Pretty soon after the cast signed on to provide voice talent. By making use of Ramis and Aykroyd’s unused script, Ghostbusters 3: Hellbent became Ghostbusters: The Video Game.


But the excitement didn’t stop there. With Murray’s renewed interest in the property, the wheels began turning once more towards a third feature film. In his own words: “its promising, its never looked promising before”.

By early 2009 it was official; the Internet swarmed and Murray, Aykroyd and Ramis couldn’t do an interview without it getting a mention. But what news is legitimate?

It’s comforting to know that Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, two writers from the Emmy Award winning American Office are penning a script. Stupnitsky having been trained by Ramis should have the humour covered and the ability to breathe new life into the script.

Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Bill Murray will all reprise their roles, this time appearing as mentor figures to a younger group of Ghoul grapplers.

And it’s hard to not feel warm and fuzzy inside at the news that Rick Moranis, the original nerd, will come out of retirement to play Louis Tully. A character that a third film just wouldn’t be complete without.

As for Sigourney Weaver, having declined to be apart of the video game there is still no word yet on whether she will return as Dana Barrett. Just the vow of a determined Aykroyd, “hopefully, Sigourney will be in it. I know we’ll make that happen." Having come this far it would be a shame to see her absent from GB3.

With Judd Apatow squashing rumours that his clan will be taking the reins, as yet there is no word on whether series vet Ivan Reitman will return to direct. However with new information surfacing each week, anything is possible.


Sadly we will have to wait until at least 2011 to see any footage but it seems strapping on the proton packs one more time might not be such a scary though after all.

In the mean time check out the trailer for Ghostbusters: The Video Game to wet your appetite, released 19th June 2009.

And marvel at the fact that I went this whole blog without using the phrase “Who you gonna call?” once.

Except for just then.