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Bill Murray Won’t Be In Ghostbusters 3

It’s been a long time coming, but the news we’ve all expected for the past several years is finally out. Bill Murray will not be in the third Ghostbusters movie. Murray has done his best to keep the third film from happening by sending back script after script, and it looks like his fellow Ghostbuster, Dan Aykroyd, has finally called it. But if you think this means this is the end of the iconic movie franchise, you’re sadly mistaken.

In a recent interview for Metro, Dan Aykroyd confirmed that they were going ahead and finally making Ghostbusters 3 without Murray. While the thought of a Ghostbusters movie without Peter Venkman is a little disturbing, you can’t say that the team has not given Murray enough chances to jump on board the project. The first script for the proposed sequel was written by Aykroyd all the way back in the ’90s but was never used due  to Murray’s lack of interest (the script was however later rewritten and used as the basis of the fairly enjoyable Ghostbusters videogame). With numerous scripts written since then, Murray has time and again said that he would only consider coming back to the Ghostbusters if the script was perfect. But it looks like Dan Aykroyd finally got tired of waiting on him. According to Aykroyd:

It’s sad but we’re passing it on to a new generation. Ghostbusters 3 can be a successful movie without Bill. My preference would be to have him involved but at this point he doesn’t seem to be coming and we have to move on. It’s time to make the third one.

Unless this is just an elaborate PR stunt done just to surprise everyone at the theater (ala Zombieland), this means Venkman is out for real this time. So what do you think, can there be a Ghostbusters without Bill Murray, or is this third film doomed to failure?

Comments

  • http://www.facebook.com/nathan.p.kennedy Nathan Paul Kennedy

    I hate to say it, but its not really like the world is banging on their doors demanding the third one is it? (And lets be honest, 3rd’s are usually crap anyway…)

    • Digitalman

      Return of the Jedi

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Scott-Cumston/827377555 Scott Cumston

      Hmmnnn…..Back To The Future III?

  • Bob

    No big loss. Murray is a very talented and funny guy but he’s not irreplaceable.

  • Scanner

    It’s a shame, because I thought Murray was at his best in GB1, but ultimately if he feels that strongly against it, then it’s probably best that he’s not in it than have him in and give a luke warm performance. Good luck to him, and to GB3!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Aaron-Smith/1340914747 Aaron Smith

    Even if they got Bill to do it, he would probably just be phoning it in, anyway. Bring on some new talent.

  • crafterkat

    Hire Jeff Goldblum as Venkman’s brother or cousin… come to visit while P.V. is doing the speaker circuit in the Ukraine. He and nephew Oscar (Dana’s son) can work with the “guys” when it is discovered that Jeff’s character is haunted (and that’s why he travels all the time). Wait a second… did I just write the exposition?

  • http://www.facebook.com/rian.mcmurtry Rian McMurtry

    If they’re passing the torch anyway, write Venkman out as “lost in time and space” or dead and hire some strong young talent to fill the void.

  • http://www.facebook.com/bob.rose Bob Rose Jr.

    What about Harold Ramis? Will he be part of the project? As for Murray’s replacement my vote would be for Community’s Joel McHale -a cocky but lovable leading man type, who could pull off Venkman. Actually, if they’re talking about replacing all three, I’d vote for Andy Sandberg to replace Harold Ramis and Patton Oswalt to replace Dan Ackroyd.

  • http://www.facebook.com/travis.peters.16 Travis Peters

    I actually don’t want to see a 3rd one. The first 2 are great love them the game they did a couple years ago great, but hollywood has bombed so many remakes and old franchises these past years I would have to agree with Bill, if they do make 3 it should be perfect.

  • Mordaris

    Meh. Everything I’ve heard or read about Murray indicates that he is a prima donna jerk. Good riddance. They should just get a talented actor to replace him as the character.

  • Sleeper99999

    There’s no GHOSTBUSTERS without Bill Murray, and it would be for the best if Aykroyd would realize that and call it a day.

  • Lone Wolf

    Peter Venkman wouldn’t be that hard to write out of the script. Of all the Ghostbusters, he was kind of the slacker. He was really only ever in it for kicks. They could say he just got tired of it after a while. But to be a good sport, the least Murray could do is make a cameo appearance. Maybe the boys meet for a coffee at some point, trying to convince him to come back, or a phone call. Though a third installment could work without him, Murrays dry humour and endless sarcasm will be surely missed…

  • http://www.facebook.com/jon.christian.18 Jon Christian

    Saddened by this, won’t be the same without Murray.

  • Yami bakura itemri

    It’s doomed………….,

  • Burtimymus

    so here’s an idea, just get Joel Murray his kid brother from God bless America to play let say venkman’s long lost brother

  • http://picasaweb.google.com/JTHolroyd/TileStoneWork JessSayin

    No Bill Murray = Redbox

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XNBOS4UIX5Y4LBN7RHKL234UZA shcf

    hes been messing around for over a decade saying yes, no ,maybe
    its good they cut him loose

  • http://www.facebook.com/francoisguillaume.meunier François-Guillaume Meunier

    It’s doomed, mostly because they waited 20 years before making the goddamned sequel! I’m still gonna be a good little sucker and pay full price to see it, but let’s face it… It’s not gonna work!

  • Mark

    Great, now maybe they can get on with it. He’s been holding out for years. About time they move on……

  • Jorg

    I like Bill Murray. He was tremendously funny in the 80′s and early 90′s. However, he and Rick Moranis have pretty much lost interest in the Ghostbusters franchise. That is fine. As long as Ernie Hudson stars in GB3 I am in. Ernie’s role has always been understated. (Youtube – Ernie Hudson Is Ghostbuster) Murray’s absence will hopefully force the writers to be more creative in forming the plot in the next movie.