Ivan Reitman Could Return To Direct ‘Ghostbusters 3′
Published by Brian Warmoth on Friday, June 5, 2009 at 3:30 pm.

Even as the first two “Ghostbusters” films get polished up to reappear in stores on Blu-ray on June 16, the films’ creators are busy deciding what the long rumored sequel will look like — even director and producer Ivan Reitman, who may still opt to reclaim both roles when the film begins production as early as this winter. Dan Aykroyd has named Harold Ramis as his favorite to replace Reitman if his schedule is too busy, but “Ghostbusters 3″ could earn priority with the original director if the script is right.

“I’ve never ruled out,” Reitman told MTV News. “I certainly was responsible in every capacity for the first two movies so I certainly wouldn’t wander away from the third one—especially if it’s something we all think is worth doing.”

Reitman also commented on the movie’s story details, which Aykroyd hinted would include a new squad of Ghostbusters, perhaps with a female recruit or two this time, which would make Bill Murray’s Peter Venkman happy.

“That was certainly in the outline they proposed,” Reitman acknowledged, referring to a treatment by writers Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg of “The Office.” “I don’t know if that’s the way the script will finally turn out.”

And that final script may not be too far away, along with revelations about who may appear as the next generation of Ghostbusters.

“The script is going to be turned in a month or so and we’ll see,” he explained. “All the casting and directing speculation is really just speculation.”


Older statements:

Ivan Reitman, 1999:

I would probably produce the film, not direct it.

Dan Aykroyd, 2009:

Aykroyd said he wishes Ivan Reitman would return to direct the third film in the series but that he's “too busy as a mega-producer” to take it on; his second choice is Ramis

Would you like to see Reitman come back to direct the new “Ghostbusters” sequel? Or should Ramis or someone else do the job for a “fresh look”? (the last films Reitman directed were not quite successful …)

Ivan has my vote.

All these late franchise sequels had both new directors and writers, which is why they ended up so flat and lifeless. Indy, Die Hard, etc.

Ivan already knows the ropes, and knows how to work with the cast, they've already formed a family like chemistry.

if theres original director and a new writer, we can have something just as fresh. the original director will adapt the new look to the original feel. It'll be fresh, while maintaining some consistency of the original two.

Interesting…last year in the September 22nd issue of TIME Magazine, they said that Guillermo Del Toro was a good choice to direct GB3. I can scan it if you want proof…

Update, 8th June 2009

Harold Ramis

Last week, Ivan Reitman was asked by MTV about his involvement in the project, but Ramis isn't so sure Reitman would want to direct it, even though it's obviously too early to tell. "I don't think he wants to; I'm not sure I want to (direct). It's just a lot of open questions. Until we see a script, I don't think anyone really knows how they feel about it. Everyone's open to doing it, that's the main thing, that's what got it moving forward."

slashfilm.com

I was sent an e-mail from a source inside the industry who wanted to relate a little Ghostbusters 3 gossip. According to them, Jake Kasdan wants the directing gig. As in actively wants it and, I would assume, is pursuing it. If the job was mine to give, I’d be putting a bow on it for him now.

That's the director of “Orange County” and “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” - stupid rumour, I guess.

Andreas;146466
That's the director of “Orange County” and “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” - stupid rumour, I guess.

If that's the guy they're speaking of, I have no idea why they're saying they'd “put a bow on it for him right now”… Neither of those movies suggest talent enough to deal with Ghostbusters.

I like Orange County …Walk Hard (not so much)