Just like it is speculated that Ghost Busters 3 will have the old team passing the torch to a new younger group of Busters, so art imitates life. The studio wants Reitman to step away from directing Ghostbusters 3 in favour of a younger newer director.
Bloody Disgusting says:
“The studio’s strategy is to revitalize the franchise for next year by having the original ‘busters train a dramatically younger crew in Ghostbusters III, while a correspondingly younger director handles things behind the camera,” writes Vulture. “However, Reitman’s old contract — made at the height of his and Ovitz’s powers — still gives him exceptional creative control over the series, including director approval.”
Even more interesting, some of the stars can kill the project with a raise of their hand.
“In fact, a source tells us that Reitman and all three original principals (Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, and Harold Ramis … sorry, Ernie Hudson!) have a deal that says that if any of the four of them don’t like any element of a new Ghostbusters, they can singlehandedly veto and kill the project; it has to be unanimously approved before going forward.”
While I can see how the studio would feel about passing the torch with a new director. Reitman might be the right man for the job because his contract says he gets to pick the director, but can he pull off a Ghost Busters movie that will have a broad appeal to newer audiences, kickstarting a new generation of Ghost Busters? Or will he simply deliever a movie that would appeal to existing fans of the franchise.
But the big scary is that if the studio stands there ground – and that ground rubs Reitman or any of the Old Busters the wrong way, then there will not be another Ghost Busters.
I hope they settle this amicably, and we get to see another Ghost Busters film, and Zod willing, a re-ignited franchise for a whole new generation.
