Dan Aykroyd looks to Star Wars & Marvel in crafting Ghostbusters sequels

Despite the 30th anniversary screenings of GHOSTBUSTERS in theaters, it doesn’t feel like we are any closer to a GHOSTBUSTERS 3 than before. Getting a great script together that’s worthy of the name has taken some time and Dan Aykroyd recently revealed why that might be the case. It appears as if the creative team is looking to established franchises in helping to not only assemble GHOSTBUSTERS 3, but to go beyond it.

What Aykroyd and Co. have in mind for the future of Ghostbusters:

It’s beyond just another sequel, a prequel, another TV show. I’m thinking what does the whole brand mean to Sony? What does Pixar and Star Wars mean to Disney? What does Marvel mean to Fox? The executives, the creatives, Ivan [Reitman] and myself — we’re now looking at the next 10 years.

On how far along the GHOSTBUSTERS sequel(s) are:

It’s up on blocks, it needs new electronics, new everything. That’s what we have to do. The whole vehicle of Ghostbusters has to be rebuilt. That’s the ambitious thinking that’s going on now. Taking on the model of Marvel where we take all of the elements that are in this movie and we put them out there as different ideas.

And what of a an all-female cast for GHOSTBUSTERS 3? According to The Hollywood Reporter, Aykroyd said that he felt it could be a possibility for GHOSTBUSTERS 3 or 4, but that they need to write it. I don’t inherently think that trying to set up overall mythology or franchise is a bad idea, but that has to culminate with a great first (or this case, third) movie before worrying about whatever sequels or spinoffs may result. It looks like Marvel learned from their mistakes from the likes of IRON MAN 2 in that they know how to not only set up plot threads for future Marvel movies, but to deliver a great movie first and foremost. Aykroyd certainly has worse places to look for inspiration, but one can’t help but wonder if too much time has passed to really sell the GHOSTBUSTERS again. I hope they can.