[mrmichaelt]

I’m all for that if there’s a GB movie underneath, and for me personally there wasn’t enough OGB banter, jokes, passing the torch, etc.

It was too much of one and not enough of the other, for me.

Agreed.

The whole thing would have worked better as a series than as a single movie.

Frankly, in my opinion, a series would be a better future for the franchise than another movie. A series could even “go back in time” to before FE, or even slightly before AF, as flashbacks to show what happened. Then flesh out all the character arcs, etc. over various episodes.

Instead of just one next movie that aims to fix all the complaints people had about FE and also add new stuff.

But I doubt they’d be able to get Aykroyd, Murray and Hudson to agree to a series role.

Yeah, that's something Sony has been too conservative about. Not enough canon tie-in and spin-off material between movies that help fill in the gaps and use some jumping off points introduced in the latest movies. The Back in Town comic played it too safe with telling the story of the Spenglers and Gary moving to New York. They could easily do a second comic book series expanding on Ray's story about the end of the Ghostbusters.

Or canon novels like Star Wars does. Even for ATC, the Ghosts from Our Past that came out really fleshed out Erin and Abby's backstories and gave better context for their schism.

They could do spin-off series like one focused on the Paranormal Research Center maybe in the style and tone of The Office or What We Do In The Shadows. They could do a show about Tobin and his travels and adventures as he was writing his book. They can get really experimental with genre. I think Aykroyd and Hudson would be down to be in the shows. Recurring guests probably but maybe they'd be down for more. While not the same, he's been narrating/hosting I think up to 2 shows on Travel Channel/History Channel and Hudson does both TV and movies. We all know Murray is a question but he did show up for every movie. I think someone who could really benefit from having TV shows to shine and have a focus would be Janine/Potts and even a lot of the new characters like Lars and Lucky at the PRC.

[One time]

Yeah. A series offers so many possibilities to branch out. Especially because there are so many holes. Most notably Ray's exposition. But also the formation of the PRC. John Horace Tobin's adventures, so many possibilities with that one, though difficult to have a Ghostbusters focus there.

In fact what (in my mind) would really be cool would be to go back to Bryan Welsh (The Rookie) who in the extended canon started the Chicago franchise on Venkman's request. What happened with that the past 30 years? Who did he hire?

A clean slate start, no more Callie/Trevor/Lucky/Grooberson/Nadeem/Patton Oswalt/James Acaster. But actual new Ghostbusters.

They could "soft" retcon Welsh in with Venkman saying a sarcastic line about: "yeah we had an intern in the 90's once, didn't really do much."

I'm not sure if the guy who portrayed Welsh in the game was an actor (Ryan French), but if he's not up for it they could get a lookalike. In fact they'd have to, as French would be about 40 y/o today and need to be 60, if he was 10 years younger than the OG's in 1991.

In any case, much more possibilities with a series than a movie, and it would be very lucky for fans, we'd get so much more material than a single movie.

[mrmichaelt]

Yeah. A series offers so many possibilities to branch out. Especially because there are so many holes. Most notably Ray's exposition. But also the formation of the PRC. John Horace Tobin's adventures, so many possibilities with that one, though difficult to have a Ghostbusters focus there.

With Tobin they can totally do something new to expand the world of Ghostbusters and the lore and mythos without having Ghostbusters. He can touch on not only the ghosts and gods he writes about - did he encounter them, how did he deal with them, did he encounter the other writers mentioned in the franchise, did he meet Shandor face to face i.e. infiltrate the Cult of Gozer for research, clash with the Manhattan Adventurers Society over artifacts, encounter a Firemaster, etc. More or less like the supernatural shows in the past couple years - Grim, Supernatural, etc. but set at the dawn of the 20th century.

In fact what (in my mind) would really be cool would be to go back to Bryan Welsh (The Rookie) who in the extended canon started the Chicago franchise on Venkman's request. What happened with that the past 30 years? Who did he hire?

A clean slate start, no more Callie/Trevor/Lucky/Grooberson/Nadeem/Patton Oswalt/James Acaster. But actual new Ghostbusters.

They could "soft" retcon Welsh in with Venkman saying a sarcastic line about: "yeah we had an intern in the 90's once, didn't really do much."

I'm not sure if the guy who portrayed Welsh in the game was an actor (Ryan French), but if he's not up for it they could get a lookalike. In fact they'd have to, as French would be about 40 y/o today and need to be 60, if he was 10 years younger than the OG's in 1991.

In any case, much more possibilities with a series than a movie, and it would be very lucky for fans, we'd get so much more material than a single movie.

Yeah, they could definitely do a new franchise(s) in another state/city as a series and if they want cross them over in a movie later on. Ray and Winston helping start up a franchise in Chicago with Rookie leading it was one premise of the unmade The Video Game sequel.

No French was in the Terminal Reality production crew who made the game. They had considered a bunch of actors but then if I recall, it was decided to go the low cost route and French was volunteered to be the guy.

[One time]

With Tobin they can totally do something new to expand the world of Ghostbusters and the lore and mythos without having Ghostbusters. He can touch on not only the ghosts and gods he writes about - did he encounter them, how did he deal with them, did he encounter the other writers mentioned in the franchise, did he meet Shandor face to face i.e. infiltrate the Cult of Gozer for research, clash with the Manhattan Adventurers Society over artifacts, encounter a Firemaster, etc. More or less like the supernatural shows in the past couple years - Grim, Supernatural, etc. but set at the dawn of the 20th century.

From a business standpoint it makes the most sense. This is what Star Wars did, the universe for GB would be massive. There are so many -actual- (well in the vernacular anyway) entities to choose from globally. With Tobin at the head of the team. There could even be time portals or dimensional portals.

No French was in the Terminal Reality production crew who made the game. They had considered a bunch of actors but then if I recall, it was decided to go the low cost route and French was volunteered to be the guy.

Oh yeah, I remember. In any case they would not be able to use Ryan French as he is simply too young (40 or so) and The Rookie would be 55-60 by 2024, so they would need a lookalike anyway. But I guess they could have it set in like 1995 with a younger actor. It would be a clean slate Ghostbusting series.

The possibilities with this franchise are really endless if they think in series. Those series could then spin off movies.
But one more mediocre standalone sequel to FE using the same characters would be a disaster for it.

[mrmichaelt]

From a business standpoint it makes the most sense. This is what Star Wars did, the universe for GB would be massive. There are so many -actual- (well in the vernacular anyway) entities to choose from globally. With Tobin at the head of the team. There could even be time portals or dimensional portals.

Exactly. The Mandalorian and Andor got me interested/reinvested in Star Wars and they barely had any of the main characters from the movies in them.

But I guess they could have it set in like 1995 with a younger actor. It would be a clean slate Ghostbusting series.

The possibilities with this franchise are really endless if they think in series. Those series could then spin off movies.
But one more mediocre standalone sequel to FE using the same characters would be a disaster for it.

They could.

No pandemic and no strikes this time around withholding knock wood, yes, the next one has to be a touchdown BUT what I think is a smart move is a shift towards animation to buildup fan goodwill so to speak with the new animated series and presumably they're still making the animated theatrical movie next.

[Bison256]

I don't think Ghostbusters has legs the way it used to. I enjoyed Afterlife and parts of Frozen Empire. I don't see the franchise ever reaching anywhere near what it was in 1990. I think Ghostbusters will now be reduced to a nostalgia franchise based around licensed merchandise. Which is what it was before Afterlife.

[One time]

Ghost Corps is not just going to go bankrupt. There will be other media. But I think while this last Haslab will (just) fund (I hope), it might show Hasbro that the props were really the attraction of these GB Haslabs more so than figures or cars. GB is really about the equipment.

If we can just get one last Ecto Goggles Haslab.... that would just be everything.

If not isn't it a little bit like the Mattel Matty 2014 situation?

Mattel PKE
Mattel Trap
Mattel Wand
Mattel Ecto Goggles

But no pack!

Now the missing one would be the Ecto Goggles for Hasbro.
And boy would a potential Hasbro Ecto Goggles have the potential to tie the play patterns of the prior 3 Haslab GB props together. Just thinking of the possibilities makes your imagination run wild.

[zeta otaku]

Well, whatever the future brings, it may be without Stantz and Venkman:

https://ghostbustersnews.com/2024/11/16 ... ers-films/

[BatDan]

Thats..disheartening.

So much for “golden years”

I can see dropping Venkman and Janine to allow room for other characters to grow.

But the world of Ghostbusting needs the wisdom and heart of Ray Stantz.

[Bison256]

Dan had some of the best scenes in Afterlife and Frozen Empire! Honestly him says something like this makes me worry there's something he's not saying. Perhaps his health's declining.

[BatDan]

Dont say that. Never say that. ghostbusters never say die.

[Davideverona]

Well, promoting Frozen Empire he said he could see the originals returning for two or three sequels. Maybe he's just being cautious, maybe not.

If I was a director tasked with the next GB movie I'd KILL to have Aykroyd aboard.

[WCat2000]

Ya I hope there’s nothing wrong with him. You can always have Ray around. He doesn’t have to suit up.

I really like his show Unbelievable. Haven’t seen the new episode. It’s on DVR.

[One time]

I genuinely hope it's strategy on the part of Aykroyd to say these things. Leverage.

They did him such a disservice in Frozen Empire, it hurts just to think about it.

Stantz and Spengler were a team, (engineer and theorist) with Spengler gone Stantz would have taken over the equipment side.

Ray Stantz would be the one explaining to Phoebe (and the audience) how everything was designed. He would be the one jokingly helping Grooberson with the pack when Grooberson couldn't figure it out. "Look man, it's not that hard, here this is how... this is the inductor coil data line... it always needs to feed into the cyclotron control unit..."

Ray would be the one explaining Egon's Containment Unit blueprints to the new crew (not Winston, or Acaster, lol why even -have- Acaster in this movie. That role was for Stantz).

Ray would do the exposition Patton Oswalt does (don't even remember his character name). Ray would -never- need to go to a specialist to decipher a dead language. Heck, forget Ray... Dan Aykroyd the actor -playing- Ray would probably identify that language. Why bring in a whole new character (Oswalt) and take the limelight off Stantz. Such a wrong move.

They have Ray Stantz in the background eating a candy bar like someone who doesn't know anything in Frozen Empire. They literally make him look like a numbnuts. It's so disheartening. It hurts.

Ghostbusters...

Winston the pragmatic everyman, Egon the brains, Venkman the mouth and Ray the heart. Ray Stantz is the heart of the Ghostbusters.

Why did Kenan completely disregard that I will never know. The more I think about Frozen Empire the more it hurts lol.

[SpaceBallz]

Man, I hate to say it...but I think this will inevitably be remade/rebooted again.

[One time]

Man, I hate to say it...but I think this will inevitably be remade/rebooted again.

I hate thinking about it too. If they have to, the smart way would be with The Rookie (Bryan Welsh) of the Chicago branch in the expanded universe. Who started that franchise on the request of Venkman.

They could even "soft" retcon him in with Venkman saying something like: "Yeah, we had an intern in the 90's once, didn't really do much".

We've had the Spengler family angle (Phoebe/Trevor/Lucky/Callie/Grooberson), but we really can't ignore the video game (the last media that all OGB actors participated in (before Harold's death). Which Aykroyd called canon back in the day. Yes I know today the canonicity is in question.

In my mind it would be an understandable jumping off point for a reboot/remake.

It would be foolish to completely ignore it when Aykroyd himself called it GB3 for crying out loud.

[mrmichaelt]

I wouldn't put much stock in Aykroyd's statement. He also said GB3 is filming next year how many times? Sure it could have less screen time but I think he'll still be involved in other things like doing uncredited passes over the script. It would be awful if there's some health issues going on, prayers it's not. But he's largely been retired from acting, Ghostbusters movies being his exception - I know he said in at least 1 interview.

[Bison256]

Man, I hate to say it...but I think this will inevitably be remade/rebooted again.

Which would crash and burn.

[Kingpin]

If they have to, the smart way would be with The Rookie (Bryan Welsh) of the Chicago branch in the expanded universe.

It's probably a little too late into the game to suddenly introduce a retcon like a previously-unheard of Chicago franchise that's been operating since the '90s.

but we really can't ignore the video game

Yes I know today the canonicity is in question.

The canonicity isn't in question, the video game isn't canon with the movies anymore.

It would be foolish to completely ignore it when Aykroyd himself called it GB3 for crying out loud.

There's a question to be asked as to whether the film productions can even use anything from the video game... While IDW was able to feature the Rookie and his updated Proton Pack, there may've been greater flexibility for the comic team to use those elements over a movie production.

[One time]

Fair enough.

With "in question" I meant in the eyes of fans. Some (including me) would never consider it non-canon in our own opinion.

Who knows, if the FE cast has run its course the only character to go back to, which is licenced by Sony, is The Rookie and the Chicago franchise.

Everything GB is owned by Sony. I'm sure that if Sony deems it so, they can do whatever they want as long as something has a Mooglie patch stuck on it.

The Rookie had his own figure alongside the OGB's by Mattel. The Hasbro wand includes lights and sounds from the video game. Heck, RGB's Bug-Eye Ghost showed up in Afterlife. Weirder things have happened.

And doing a Rookie angle would open up everything again from the start, starting a business, introduce new characters, etc.

[Kingpin]

With "in question" I meant in the eyes of fans. Some (including me) would never consider it non-canon in our own opinion.

Understood, though the wording of your comment left room for forum users to potentially misinterpret it.

It would be nice to see some nods to the video-game, but with the ultimate arbitrator/s either be Sony, or Jason and Gil, I could certainly understand their desire to avoid featuring any nods.

Everything GB is owned by Sony.

They don't own the theme song. They don't own the likeness rights to a Peter Venkman who looks like Bill Murray (or any of the other movie characters) Anything using an unmodified 1959 Cadillac for Ecto-1 still has to pay royalty rights to General Motors. I dare say the various toy companies retain some degree of control over the Ghostbusters products they've produced... Hence why we didn't see Hasbro produce updated versions of the Mattel props. There seems to be indicative evidence that ILM retains the likeness rights to the ghosts (The Scoleris, etc.) from Ghostbusters II... It's my limited understanding that what Sony does and doesn't have access to, despite being under the Ghostbusters umbrella, is a lot more complicated than it appears to be.

I think it would be more likely we'd see a completely new rookie character be created by Jason, Gil, or a new creative talent helming a future film, rather than them digging up a deep-cut character who they'd have to recast anyway because the person who lent their likeness to the 2008 Rookie isn't an actor, and would be nearly a couple of decades older now.

[BatDan]

Idk guys.

Do we really want another movie? With Harold and Ivan both gone. And Dan given some somber feeling soundbytes. Jason and Gil are great..but the franchise doesnt sound like its going that well in the mainstream—if we go forward it needs a more focused, less broad direction—like Ash Vs Evil Dead—that held no punches in being its own thing that was meant for its target audience.

Seems like we had 3 strikes.

2016 devised fans of the original

AL devised fans of 2016

FE had a chance to win over everyone and ended up not executing any sides overall.

I hold out hope we get something EVERYONE loves.

Hopefully this new cartoon breathes some life in, we havent seen any concept art, not even so much as a logline yet so who knows.

[zeta otaku]

yes, I'd like more movies and shows. Flat out, no discussion needed.

[BatDan]

Discussion is needed thats why this forum exists.

Were you satisfied with all 3 new films? No complaints at all?

[Kingpin]

I'm happy to see at least one more film in the '80s continuity (I don't want things to get to the point where either the cast becomes resentful about continuing the roles they're playing, or for it to end up like the Police Academy series with an ever-decreasing original cast. I appreciate both Afterlife and Frozen Empire have their respective flaws, but at least to me, they've been more enjoyable than problematic.

I don't think we gain much new material for the discussion by re-hashing everything we've said about the past three films... We've got three dedicated topics detailing all our thoughts on each of them, so those should suffice.

Do we need more Ghostbusters films? Probably not, though I would like at least one more film: to show us that the Spenglers have now fully settled into their roles in New York, and the company's future is secured beyond any doubt.

After that, I'm happy to explore what the animated series has to offer.

[zeta otaku]

Discussion is needed thats why this forum exists.

Were you satisfied with all 3 new films? No complaints at all?

You know, fair and I apologize, yesterday was a week for me. The 2016 film is my 5th favorite Ghostbusters film. I appreciate it for what it is, but it's not a film I'll jump to go back to. I absolutely love Afterlife and the ONLY thing I'd change is at least an explanation of how the OGs got to the farm (or just show a new car outside after all is said and done). Frozen Empire isn't a perfect film, but it's fun and that's really all I need.

I partially agree with Aykroyd with his and Murray's characters returning. Venkman doesn't need to be there, but Ray is the lore guy. Have him and Podcast joined at the hip and you have a solid duo right there.

As others have said, it'd be cool to have other teams in other locations being set up which could be used for other projects and the New York team can be shuffled a bit as it's a LITTLE odd to have 4 Spenglers and whomever they pull from the PRC.

All that said, there WILL come a time where they'll end up shelving the franchise again and bring it back with a fresh reboot. By then, they'll have plenty of history to know what worked, what didn't and who to make the movie for (hint, it won't be those of us who grew up with the franchise... if we like the new stuff as well, that's a bonus for them) and they'll do what they want with the franchise with even fewer ties to the original movies (no legacy carry overs).

[BatDan]

Whatever they do with the Spenglers.. ill enjoy the ride. Just focus on THE SPENGLERS. We dont need firemasters and ghost friends (unless its slimer)

But one things certain: Winston needs a subplot arc.

4 movies in and poor Winston has not had an arc yet. Egon post-humously had one in Afterlife. Rays “golden years” thread in FE. Its Winstons turn.

I guess making him the new CEO can count somewhat, but thats not really a character arc as much as its a plot advancement.

Hell, you can have Winston lose his company to a merger and he has to invest what hes got left into GB.

We also never saw Winston on a routine bust..hes only been featured in the final battles.

[Kingpin]

We dont need firemasters and ghost friends

Nadeem contributed greatly to the film's comedic content, as well as looking a little more into the world of magic in the Ghostbusters world (and also offered a brief glimpse into non-Western paranormal phenomena). Melody (for all her actual or perceived faults) also expanded our understanding of the universe's ghosts.

It doesn't handicap the franchise to have more content like that, quite the opposite... It enriches it.

Hell, you can have Winston lose his company to a merger and he has to invest what hes got left into GB.

I agree that Winston has more than earned a story arc, but I'd only support an arc like that on the provision Winston gets his company back by the end of the movie. It would be massively unfair on Winston to have him achieve such success, only for it to be permanently ripped away from him.

A business-related arc could introduce something like the Ghost Smashers, a rival company whose underhanded practices and questionable scientfic methods put the city in danger... Allowing the Ghostbusters to step up and prove they're the definitive paranormal removal company in America.

[BatDan]

Of course these are comedy movies at the end of the day; Winston will prevail by the end. I like your idea about the rival company. With todays social media age— theres so much copycatting going on in the capitalism world, it be a fun dive for the Ghostbusters to compete for their integrity.

As for Nadeem and Melody; i dont have an issue with their performances and direction, what they open for the world building. I thought nadeem was hilarious.

Its more so the stuffiness that their inclusion created in a singular screenplay. Both threads are two different movies going on and would have benefited if they focused on one at a time.