I’m not against the idea of an all-female Ghostbusters film. I’m plenty certain that director Paul Feig and his cast can pull something off. I’m just not interested in it in any way whatsoever, and will most likely happily rewatch the original films when that one is released. Sony can do whatever they want with the franchise, and even though Feig’s Ghostbusters has yet to film a single frame of footage, it looks like the company has some grand plans for the franchise.
And that includes making a guys-only version of Ghostbusters.
According to Deadline, Sony is forming a studio that will specifically deal with Ghostbuster movies, called Ghostcorps. Ivan Reitman and Dan Akroyd will head the studio, which will help create a shared universe of Ghostbuster movies. Because clearly, Sony learnt their lesson after The Amazing Spider-Man 2 failed to create their own attempt at cashing in on Marvel’s phased-out movie plans.
According to the report, directors have already been found for the flick, and it’s none other than Captain America: Winter Soldier helmers Joe and Anthony Russo. They’ve even got actors in mind, which include Chris “Guardians Of The Galaxy” Pratt and Channing “22 Jump Street” Tatum to star. Drew Pearce will pen the script.
In an email sent to Columbia Pictures (via THR), Columbia Pictures co-president of production Hannah Minghella confirmed that the Russo brothers were already working on this with Tatum with the hope that Pratt would also star in this brand new franchise with their names attached to it. The letter also claims that the movies will be “simultaneously super scary while also super funny”. The plan is then for this and Feig’s movies to cross on over Avengers-style in a third film when the two teams unite to face a massive threat, before a fourth movie heads down the prequel route.
Make no mistake, that’s a great amount of talent right there. It’s also a great example of bad PR, because there’s no way that this film is going to be warmly received when it feels like Feig’s Ghostbusters movie is now getting derailed. So what the hell is actually going on here then? Reitman explained to Deadline:
“Paul Feig’s film will be the first version of that, shooting in June to come out in July, 2016. He’s got four of the funniest women in the world, and there will be other surprises to come. The second film has a wonderful idea that builds on that. Drew will start writing and the hope is to be ready for the Russo Brothers’ next window next summer to shoot, with the movie coming out the following hear. It’s just the beginning of what I hope will be a lot of wonderful movies.”
The idea of multiple Ghostbusting teams also sounds remarkably familiar to what writer Max Landis pitched a while back for a third film. And honestly, I like the idea of Pratt and Tatum as Ghostbusters. Hell, I’d happily watch that. What I’m not behind though, is either Ghostbusters film needing a gender-based gimmick. Mix the teams up I say. Give me a group of Ghostbusters made up of Pratt, Tatum, Kristen Wiig and Leslie Jones. Hell, I’d see that twice.
Last Updated: March 10, 2015
