When former Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters 2 director Ivan Reitman announced his decision to step down from directing the long-awaited-and-maybe-never-happening-at-this-point third installment of the franchise, we were all pretty bummed. After all, he had some pretty great ideas for how the movie might go. But take heart! According to Reitman, it might be a good thing that he’s giving up the reins.
Back in March after Harold Ramis had passed, Ivan Reitman told Deadline a little about the development limbo that Ghostbusters 3 is currently sitting in. It was going to be a “generational shift” that had the original ghostbusters in minor roles, but would focus on an all new team (and judging from recent rumors of an all-female Paul Feig-directed film, that idea hasn’t gone away). Reitman said:
“When I came back from Harold’s funeral, it was really moving and it made me think about a lot of things. I’d just finished directing Draft Day, which I’m really happy with and proud of. Working on a film that is smaller and more dramatic was so much fun and satisfying. I just finally met with Amy and Doug Belgrad when I got back. I said I’d been thinking about it for weeks, that I’d rather just produce this Ghostbusters. I told them I thought I could help but let’s find a really good director and make it with him. So that’s what we’ve agreed will happen. I didn’t want all kinds of speculation about what happened with me, that is the real story.”
In a more recent exclusive with SuperHeroHype, Reitman elaborated on this decision, and noted that he would still very much be involved in the new movie even if he wasn’t directing:
“I’m a producer of the film. I wasn’t giving it all up. I suddenly felt that Ghostbusters didn’t necessarily need me as a director, at least I didn’t need to direct Ghostbusters, let me put it that way. Having done the other two and with the passing of Harold and with Bill Murray seeming disinterested being in it, I thought it was better for me just to produce it and to make sure we’re going to have the quality and style of what is appropriate for another version of that film. But the franchise could benefit from somebody else’s point of view. I’ve done it twice before and it will be great to get somebody else to lend a hand as well.”
It seems sort of like Reitman’s heart just isn’t in directing a big blockbuster like Ghostbusters 3—so as sad as it is for fans of the first two films, it makes sense for him to step down if he feels he’s not up for it. Better to let someone else who’s more passionate (and who maaaybe might cast a more diverse cast of busters—lookin’ at you, Feig) bring new life to the franchise, right?
(via /Film)
- Ivan Reitman’s Vision for Ghostbusters 3 Makes It Really Suck He’s Not Directing It Anymore
- Bridesmaids & The Heat Director Might Make A Female-Led Ghostbusters Reboot
- Self-Described “Film Chauvinist” Complains About Possible Female-Led Ghostbusters
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