Ghostbusters 3 just can’t seem to get a break.
Just when it seems like everything is set up for the long awaited threequel to shoot next summer, financial problems at studio Sony’s parent company may delay that start for several more months.
The Hollywood Reporter has a story that addresses some of the rumors that have been circulating that Sony Studios may be up for sale, with their chief executive Kaz Hirai stating that there is absolutely no truth to the gossip.
Yet the Reporter’s story goes on to cite a number of sources within the studio that are telling them that there is a virtual production freeze in place through the end of their fiscal year, March 31. During that time all projects in development are to be scrutinized for their potential profitability and the ones deemed unworthy will be deep-sixed.
This includes Ghostbusters 3, which the article specifically calls out as probably having its production start pushed back to fall. That is, if the studio decides it still wants to make the film at all.
And therein lies the rub. We know that Ghostbusters star Bill Murray is not coming back for the third film, but in order to get the project greenlit, franchise creator and co-star Dan Aykroyd and director Ivan Reitman had to have done some pretty strong convincing of the studio executives to go ahead without Murray. Will these same executives change their mind now that there may be additional pressure on them from their corporate overlords?
Perhaps Ghostbusters fans can get some sympathy from James Bond fans, who found themselves waiting four years while MGM straightened out their money problems before the studio could give the go ahead to the next Bond adventure, Skyfall.
