A veteran of 1980s horror comedies like Gremlins and The 'Burbs, Joe Dante isn't exactly a household name but has just as much if not more genre experience than anyone else on the list and, because of his tutelage under Roger Corman and his method of low-budget filmmaking, Dante could well be Sony's best shot at getting a new Ghostbusters movie made on time and under budget, a major concern for any Hollywood picture underscored by the fact that the script and schedule could have to be altered at any moment in order to accommodate any unforeseen change in circumstances (like, say, a lead actor dying). Dante certainly knows how to balance the light and dark elements of a film, and there's no better example of this than Gremlins movies: Fantastical, ridiculous stories which nevertheless can be simultaneously terrifying and hilarious - which is just what Ghostbusters III needs if those involved don't just want it to be a nostalgic rehashing of old jokes and older actors. The only real issue for concern with hiring Dante is the fact that he's never really been given a franchise-size budget before (Looney Tunes: Back In Action aside, as we can all probably agree that that movie doesn't really count), but he's been consistently solid throughout his career, so why not give a hard-working craftsman his shot at the big time?
