Who ya gonna call?
Sony announced plans on Monday to expand the ‘Ghostbusters’ film universe alongside the 2016 remake featuring an all-female cast. The film announced Monday, like the original, will have an all-male cast, and Channing Tatum is in serious talks to co-star.
The Russo Brothers (of ‘You, Me, & Dupree’ and ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’) are considered directing with Drew Pearce (screenwriter of ‘Iron Man 3’) in discussions for writing.
News broke from Deadline that Sony formed a new production company called Ghostcorps to spearhead future ‘Ghosbusters’ projects. Former ‘Ghostbuster’ Dan Aykroyd and Ivan Reitman (producer of ‘Ghostbusters’ and ‘Ghostbusters 2’) are taking reigns of the business. This will include films, television, merchandise, and more.
Reitman gave a statement regarding the future of expanding ‘Ghostbusters’:
This is a branded entertainment, combining a scary supernatural story with comedy. Paul Feig’s film will be the first of its kind, filming in June and releasing in July 2016. He has four of the funniest women around, and there will be other surprises as well. The second film has a great idea that expands on this. Drew will begin writing, and the goal is to be ready for the Russo Brothers to shoot next summer, with the movie debuting the year after.
The beloved franchise has been in talks for a third movie in recent years. The original ‘Ghostbusters’ opened in 1984, and its sequel in 1991.
Ultimately, the ‘Ghosbusters’ franchise went with a female reboot announced back in January starring Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig. Paul Feig will direct that film.
Currently, screenwriter Drew Pearce is finishing up ‘Captain America: Civil War’ while Channing Tatum has multiple projects including his ‘X-Men: Gambit’ project.
The new ‘Ghostbusters’ expansion comes as a generational movement for Tatum in this male counterpart film, as well as Sony’s studio altogether.