‘Ghostbusters 3’: Ivan Reitman Reveals Why He Won’t Direct

Ivan Reitman has been discussing why he won’t direct Ghostbusters 3, but he’s still admitted that he’ll be “very involved” in the production.

The upcoming third Ghostbusters film has been touted for close to 20 years now, and it finally looks as though it is about to become a reality.

Reitman previously directed both 1984’s Ghostbusters and 1989’s Ghostbusters II, and he’s now admitted that a potential third film to the franchise, which has previously been touted as a reboot rather than a sequel, will benefit from another filmmakers vision.

According to Comic Book, Reitman admitted: “I am very involved. I’m a producer of the film. I wasn’t giving it all up. I suddenly felt that Ghosbusters didn’t necessarily need me as a director, at least I didn’t need to direct Ghostbusters, let me put it that way.”

He then went on to explain that the passing of Harold Ramis, who co-wrote the first two films and was also involved in the script for the third movie, as well as Bill Murray’s dis-interest means that he thinks his involvement is now necessary.

“Having done the other two and with the passing of Harold and with Bill Murray seeming disinterested being in it, I thought it was better for me just to produce it and to make sure we’re going to have the quality and style of what is appropriate for another version of that film,” he noted.

However he then confessed: “But the franchise could benefit from somebody else’s point of view. I’ve done it twice before and it will be great to get somebody else to lend a hand as well.”

The most recent rumors regarding Ghostbusters III came earlier this month when Paul Feig was linked to the position as director on the project. It’s also believed that Feig will direct a reboot, which will focus on an all female team of parapsychologists.

Last month, Dan Aykroyd announced that filming for the third movie of the franchise will begin in early 2015. During a trip to Carson Daly’s talk show he explained, “It looks like we’ll be in pre-production in the spring now, from what I’m hearing. It should be good.”

Akyroyd also went to admit that when they originally filmed the first film, alongside Bill Murray and Ramis, the cast and crew just shot without permits. “The first day we went out and were stealing shots all over Manhattan. No permits, nothing,” he admitted.

Are you excited about a potential third Ghostbusters film?