One new Ghostbusters movie in development is clearly not enough for Sony Pictures, which is reportedly developing a second film based on the supernatural comedy franchise that will be separate from the upcoming reboot with an all-female cast directed by Paul Feig.
The second film will be a “counterpart” to Feig’s reboot, according to Deadline, with 21 Jump Street and Magic Mike star Channing Tatum producing and likely starring in the project. Captain America: The Winter Soldier directors Joe and Anthony Russo are expected to direct the movie, and Iron Man 3 writer Drew Pearce will reportedly pen the script.
This new film is expected to co-exist with Feig’s reboot and potentially cross over with the female-led film at some point.
The announcement of the new film coincided with the news that original Ghostbusters director/producer Ivan Reitman and co-writer Dan Aykroyd have formed Ghostcorps, a new production company based at Sony that’s tasked with expanding the Ghostbusters franchise and various merchandising opportunities related to it.
“We want to expand the Ghostbusters universe in ways that will include different films, TV shows, merchandise, all things that are part of modern filmed entertainment,” Reitman told Deadline. “This is a branded entertainment, a scary supernatural premise mixed with comedy. Paul Feig’s film will be the first version of that, shooting in June to come out in July 2016. He’s got four of the funniest women in the world, and there will be other surprises to come. The second film has a wonderful idea that builds on that. Drew will start writing and the hope is to be ready for the Russo Brothers’ next window next summer to shoot, with the movie coming out the following year. It’s just the beginning of what I hope will be a lot of wonderful movies.”
Feig’s reboot of Ghostbusters starring Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones, Melissa McCarthy, and Kate McKinnon is scheduled to hit theaters July 22, 2016.
