*This is a special guest posting by writer, Jared Hill*
The classic horror/comedy film and second highest-grossing movie of 1984, "Ghostbusters," is coming back to the big screen as the latest in a string of reboots. The talk of remaking the blockbuster started in 2009 with the original film's writing team of Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis reuniting to produce a more contemporary iteration of the film for a new generation of moviegoers, with some new twists and turns thrown in for good measure.
Public fascination with ghosts on the big screen dates to the early 1900s, with a silent movie version of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." Ghosts became more menacing in the movies thanks to legendary horror directors like Roger Corman, Alfred Hitchcock, and John Carpenter. At the time of its debut, Ghostbusters was unique in that it was one of the first films to effectively combine humor with various paranormal elements.
All the interest in the "Ghostbusters" reboot is a testament to the impact that the original film has had on moviegoers of all ages, ranging from those who saw it in theaters the first time around to millennials who watched it later through Netflix or weekend screenings on specialty TV networks on Direct TV. The movie's enduring legacy, not to mention its placement on the American Film Institute's list of the top 100 comedies of all time, can be attributed to a combination of factors, ranging from a slew of memorable quotes ("I feel like the floor of a taxi cab") to the comic genius of the film’s original ensemble (especially Bill Murray in the role of “Peter Venkman.”)
The initial plan for the "Ghostbusters" reboot included the possibility of the original cast returning in minor roles. In 2010, Aykroyd said that a first draft of the script, written with Ramis, included some of the elements that made the original such a smash.
Due to the negative critical response to Ghostbusters II, Aykroyd showed a desire to continue working on the script for the remake until it was perfect. With the curse of so many other ghost-oriented classic films, taken by the glory of movies past and falling flat on the remakes, there was a fear that a "Ghostbusters" remake would fall down the same path. Films like "The Haunting" (1999), "The Fog" (2005), "The Amityville Horror" (2005), "The Omen" (2006), and "The Thing" (2011), who would later meet their inevitable fate as free movies-on-demand.
Following the 2014 death of Harold Ramis, Sony Pictures reevaluated the script that Ramis and Aykroyd had been working on, deciding to go in an entirely different direction. So, Sony decide to proceed with an all-female cast.
While an official cast hasn't yet been confirmed, Rebel Wilson and Jennifer Lawrence have reportedly been approached for roles in the upcoming movie. Lizzy Caplan, Melissa McCarthy, Amy Schumer and Emma Stone have also expressed interest in being a part of the remake. Being a ghost hunter on one of the most popular comedies of all time is no small task and requires significant dedication — it’s comparable even to being a bigfoot hunter. However, fans seem to think these ladies are up to the challenge.
Murray is frequently described as the number one reason why the original is the best film of all time, followed by the theme song and the young cast of heroes. He commented on the remake of "Ghostbusters" during the promotional tour for his 2014 film, St. Vincent, stating that he is not interested in being part of the film because he hasn’t seen a viable script. While he did see promise of a script penned by Aykroyd that would have killed off his character, Peter Venkman, having him return as a ghost haunting his former cohorts, he will not take part in this upcoming film. Withholding his ghost hunting abilities for a script that he deems worthy, he leaves his fans saddened.
It remains to be seen if the "Ghostbusters" reboot will meet the same fate as other paranormal-based remakes. However, with the promise of an all-female cast and a possible return of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, it looks to be a film worth its money.
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