UPDATED: Columbia have slimed Ivan Reitman off GHOSTBUSTERS 3?
UPDATED:
It's true... Reitman looks like he has been whacked. Variety later reported that the veteran helmer will indeed direct Friends With Benefits, the formerly titled "Fuckbuddies" starring Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman which films this May. This is the exact same month a second draft of Ghostbusters 3 is expected to arrive at the desk of Columbia from The Office writers Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky. Columbia want GB 3 out in Summer 2011 and were set to film this year (Sony's only announced 2011 tentpole), and Friends With Benefits (released in Jan 2011) will keep Reitman busy for the rest of 2010 so there's just no way. Either Reitman's done and will be replaced, or the whole project is at best delayed a year or at worst dead completely.There's tell-tale signs of trouble at Columbia over Ghostbusters 3. The first "uh-oh" moment came earlier this month when Bill Murray appeared on Letterman showing very little affection towards the franchise; talking like he was dreading a forthcoming visit to the dentist rather than reprising his most famous film role one more time. But we mostly laughed that off; it's Bill Murray after all, and he never seems to look forward to anything. However, the second charge on the worry meter came last night and it's a biggy... Vulture reported exclusively that Columbia are desperate to boot 63 year-old veteran franchise director Ivan Reitman off the new movie in favour of a younger, more hip and cool director; probably someone who has worked with the Apatow crew like a David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express, Your Highness) or Gregg Mottola (Superbad, Adventureland). Or even his son Jason Reitman (Juno, Up in the Air).


A) Reitman directs his sex-romp comedy at Paramount and production is delayed on Ghostbusters 3 until at least next Spring where these problems won't have disappeared. B) Reitman directs his sex-romp comedy at Paramount, and the four man council Reitman/Murray/Ackroyd/Ramis say to hell with it, and the Ghostbusters franchise is done once again. C) Reitman directs his sex-romp comedy at Paramount, and by some miracle allows someone else to direct the picture.I should point out that C would seem unlikely without a huge pay deal and creative producer control (i.e: "if by son directs it, then it's fine").
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Matt Holmes
Editor-in-chief
Matt Holmes is the co-founder of What Culture, formerly known as Obsessed With Film. He has been blogging about pop culture and entertainment since 2006 and has written over 10,000 articles.
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