Despite plans to introduce a younger generation of spook fighters, and despicable plans to possibly recast Peter Venkman, Dan Aykroyd now seems resigned to the fact that Ghostbusters 3 will not happen--probably.
While in London to promote Crystal Head, his own brand of vodka, Aykroyd admitted to The Telegraph that “it’s a surety that Bill Murray will not do the movie,” though he quickly added that “there is still interest from the studio.”
“The studio, the director Ivan Reitman and Harold Ramis feel there must be a way to do it, but Bill Murray will not do the movie. He doesn’t want to be involved. He’s got six kids, houses all over America. He golfs in these tournaments where they pay him to turn up and have a laugh. He’s into this life and living it. I know we’d have a lot of fun [but] I can’t be mad at him. He’s a friend first, a colleague second. We have a deep personal relationship that transcends business and he doesn’t want to know.”
This story started ugly, and has only grown more bizarre over time. Murray went from stubbornly ignoring media inquiries about a sequel to reportedly shredding a copy of the script and mailing it back to Ramis. While Bill balked, stories started circulating that Aykroyd wanted female Ghostbusters like Eliza Dushku or Alyssa Milano to take over the power packs. Then there was the rumor that Murray might come back to the franchise as a ghost.
This, however, is the first time Aykroyd has gone on record to confirm that Murray will not be involved in any sequel. And while the comedian tells the interviewer that they’re “not going to do a movie that exploits the franchise,” I think the only reasonable thing to do at this point is cut your loses and stop all of this foolish talk. No one wants to see a Ghostbusters film without Murray. We’re not even sure we’re be interested in Ghostbusters 3 with Murray on the team … as a ghost, or as a living, breathing, wise-cracking Ghostbuster. Pull the plug. Pour your vodka, Mr. Aykroyd. Chalk this one up as “what could have been.” Because without Murray, there should be no sequel. Period.
