Columbia negotiating to bring Aykroyd, Murray, Ramis, and Weaver for the return of GB3

By Brian Frederick

HOLLYWOOD, CA (RUSHPRNEWS) 9/08/2008 – – ‘Ghostbusters III’ is in the works. Columbia Pictures has hired two writers to pen the script for the third sequel. Lee Eisenberg and his partner Gene Stupnitsky who have produced for the TV sitcom ‘The Office’ are drafting a rewrite. The idea originally for a ‘GB3′ script was written by Dan Aykroyd who has been pushing producers for a ‘GB3′ during the past few years. Aykroyd’s script for ‘GB3′ was considered too technical for producers. The first ‘Ghostbusters’ film was the highest grossing film for Columbia at the time until ‘Men in Black’ took the top spot.

The original cast of Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and Sigourney Weaver are expected to sign on the dotted line when the script is approved by the studio and all key players. There has been some difficulty in getting the verbal okay from the original cast. Harold Ramis reported to want Ben Stiller to replace Murray and Weaver and Murray apparently were both thought to be less than enthusiastic about doing a third sequel. Bill Murray’s comic movies were some of the first in Hollywood to gross more than $1 billion collectively. Rick Moranis has since retired from acting unless he makes an unexpected return to Hollywood for ‘GB3.’

All though it’s just talk for now, once the script is completed, agents and studios will be meeting between lawyers over revenue sharing. Ghostbusters will be a hit on the name attachments alone and percentages of gross will be a big part of negotiations. The only problem is having too many big star names in a movie that could easily make $200 mil world wide within a few weeks, even if the film is poorly received by critics.

Jason Reitman who is the son of Ivan Reitman the director for the first two GBs, was tapped to direct the third, but has since declined.

The billion dollar ‘Ghostbusters’ franchise, rivals ‘Stars Wars’ and the ‘Indiana Jones’ franchises with it’s own version of video games, books, comics, television, music (“Who you gonna call – Ghostbusters!’) and action figures.

SOURCE:Hollywood Today