This is a story that’s going to come as little surprise to anyone who’s followed the progression of Ghostbusters 3 to date. For Dan Aykroyd has confirmed that Bill Murray will not be taking part in the film.

Despite earlier suggestions that the film wouldn’t even happen if Murray wasn’t on board, there are still efforts to get it going, but it’s looking a slightly longer shot. “I honestly don’t know”, Aykroyd admitted, when asked if he thought the film would ever materialise. “At this point it’s in suspended animation. The studio, the director Ivan Reitman and Harold Ramis feel there must be a way to do it, but Bill Murray will not do the movie”.

“He doesn’t want to be involved”, Aykroyd continued. “He’s got six kids, houses all over America. He golfs in these tournaments where they pay him to turn up and have a laugh. He’s into this life and living it. I know we’d have a lot of fun [but] I can’t be mad at him. He’s a friend first, a colleague second. We have a deep personal relationship that transcends business and he doesn’t want to know.”

So is there a way to do the film without Murray? Possibly, but not for the sake of it, appears to be the answer. “We’re not going to do a movie that exploits the franchise. The script has to be perfect. I’m the cheerleader, but I’m only one voice in the matter. It’s a surety that Bill Murray will not do the movie, however there is still interest from the studio”.

Given Aykroyd’s enthusiasm for the project to date, that’s about the most downbeat interview we’ve read with him surrounding Ghostbusters 3. It might just be, at the very least, the film is going back to development hell for a bit. If not forever...

I smell "reboot" down the road for the GB's.They might as well do that since it's been 23 years since GB 2 and really the best thing is to have Reiman,Ramis and Akroyd there for creative consulting/producing to make sure the movie's done the way they would like it.Murray made the point of who wants to see 60+ old men running around with proton packs on their backs(paraphrased by me)? Might as well start fresh if they want to keep this going.

One thing is crystal-clear. One thing is obvious and apparent and screams truth in volumes that offend the angelic chorus of the neverafter.

Without Bill Murray, this film is doomed.

The reason I will never watch a third Ghostbusters film is Ghostbusters 2. proof that even if you have Murray, it won't necessarily be a good movie.

And, that alone makes me take back anything bad I have ever said about Steve Martin in recent years.

BTW, just checked out some of his bluegrass. It's pretty good.

Ghostbusters Franchise Planning A Second, Male-Centric Movie Along With All-
In addition to the Ghostbusters’ reboot starring Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon, another male-centric Ghostbusters movie is being planned by Sony Pictures.

According to Deadline, the studio is forming Ghostcorps, a production company led by Ivan Reitman and Dan Akyroyd, that will handle branding opportunities associated with the franchise.

Joe and Anthony Russo, who directed Captain America: The Winter Soldier, are in line for the male-driven Ghostbusters film, with a script from Drew Pearce, who wrote Iron Man 3 and Mission Impossible 5. Channing Tatum and partners Reid Carolin and Peter Kiernan are on board to produce, with hopes that Tatum will play one of the protagonists in the remake. This process is being handled by Sony while they also begin production on the Paul Feig-directed, female-led Ghostbusters. The project is ambitious and still in the early stages of development.

Reitman made a statement, saying, “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. This is 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.”