It’s been the stuff of rumors for years now, but a recent interview with Ghostbusters franchise actor Dan Aykroyd hints that Ghostbusters 3 could finally be moving forward.
Aykroyd recently appeared on Dennis Miller’s radio show and shared some details about the project, including a timeline, the likelihood of seeing Bill Murray reprise his role as Peter Venkman, and at least one potential casting option they’re considering.
According to Aykroyd, filming will begin on Ghostbusters 3 in 2012 — with or without Murray.
“Yes, we will be doing the movie and hopefully with Mr. Murray,” he told Miller (as transcribed by SuperHeroHype). “That is our hope. We have an excellent script.”
“What we have to remember is that Ghostbusters is bigger than any one component, although Billy was absolutely the lead and contributive to it in a massive way, as was the director and Harold [Ramis], myself and Sigourney [Weaver],” he added. “The concept is much larger than any individual role and the promise of Ghostbusters 3 is that we get to hand the equipment and the franchise down to new blood.”
As for who that new blood will be, Aykroyd dropped at least one name of an actor he’s interested in for the film.
“I like this guy Matthew Gray Gubler from the Criminal Minds show,” he said. “But there’s going to be a casting. We’re going to see everyone that wants to do it. We’re going to need… three guys and a young woman.”
Aykroyd also shared some plot details regarding the reasons his character, Ray Stantz, and Ramis’ character, Egon Spengler, will need to pass their proton packs on to a new generation.
“My character, Ray, is now blind in one eye and can’t drive the cadillac,” he revealed, “He’s got a bad knee and can’t carry the packs… Egon is too large to get into the harness. We need young blood and that’s the promise. We’re gonna hand it to a new generation.”
