As confirmed earlier this month, Bill Murray is going to be in Ghostbusters 3. I don’t think this was a huge shock to most people because he is the face of that franchise but it’s exciting to think of Murray being Dr. Peter Venkman yet again. Also recently we saw reports of the movie possibly shooting this summer. But this week Murray sat down with David Letterman and the two got to talking about both Ghostbusters 3 as well as the Ghostbusters video game.

Murray, at least on the show, claims that he would only be in the third installment of Ghostbusters if he was killed off early on in the film. He doesn’t seem too keen on the idea, saying he didn’t like Ghostbusters 2 even and that the third film was his “nightmare”.

For the video as well as everything we know thus far on Ghostbusters 3, hit the jump.

If you’re trying to stay in the dark for as long as possible on Ghostbusters 3, this article ain’t for you.  Move along.  For the rest of us, Bill Murray confirmed his role as a ghost in the upcoming installment in the franchise.  Murray told The Mail:

I’ll come back in Ghostbusters III only if I get to be a ghost.  I said to them, ‘I’ll do it if you kill me off in the first reel.’ So now they are going to have me as a ghost in the film.

Sigourney Weaver first let the information slip back in December while she was doing press for Avatar (she also said that Dana’s son, Oscar, would now be a ghostbuster).  In an interview last month, Ivan Reitman confirmed he would direct Ghostbusters 3, but when asked about Weaver’s comments, he would neither confirm nor deny them.  But back to Murray’s  interview with The Mail, you should read the full piece as it’s both insightful and unguarded.

According to MarketSaw, the third installments of both Ghostbusters and Gremlins will get the 3D treatment.  MarketSaw cites unnamed sources that say both films are going 3D.  This may be true.  Avatar has changed the game as far as 3D is concerned and both franchises appear 3D appropriate.  But have the Ghostbusters crew really already decided on 3D when they’re still working on the script?  And yes, Gremlins director Joe Dante’s next film, The Hole, is in 3D and maybe he’s fallen in love with the technology.  But any rumblings about a third Gremlins have been few and far between.

These are both exciting prospects, but I just don’t trust them.  I’m not going to rail against their site like I did last year, but I feel that they’re drawing hits on sensational headlines rather than doing their due diligence in their reporting.  Editor Jim Dorey may trust his sources, but his sources might just be making educated guesses, especially when these projects are still in their nascent stages.  I’m not saying that these movies won’t happen or won’t be in 3D.  I just think it’s premature to offer it as hard fact.  There’s no shame in saying “may be” instead of “will be.”

Whether you’re filled with excited or filled with dread at the prospect, Ghostbusters 3 looks like it’s really happening.  MTV confirms that Ivan Reitman, who directed and produced the first two movies, will return for the third installment.  He also says that he has received a finished script from writers Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky (Year One, the US version of The Office) and they’re currently at work on a second draft.

However, Reitman, who’s last film was2006′s My Super Ex-Girlfriend, danced around Sigourney Weaver’s comments about her son Oscar becoming a ghostbuster and Bill Murray’s character now being a ghost.  “I’m not going to comment on what’s in the script and on what Sigourney may or may not have said,” Reitman says. “She’s been so busy on Avatar, I’ve not been able to find her. There’s some very cool things in the new draft, let’s just put it that way.” I had trouble finding the words, “No”, “False”, or “Untrue,” anywhere in that response.

Finally, Reitman says he’s planning to shoot next year, which contradicts Harold Ramis’ comment this past December where he said that they were planning to shoot this summer and release the movie in 2011.  Reitman’s last film was 2006′s My Super Ex-Girlfriend.

Ghostbusters 3 has been rumored for a great many years, but the project looks like it is finally taking off.  Director Harold Ramis says it may start shooting next summer and hit screens in 2011.  He also revealed a few details about the plot of the film.  It’s unlikely that Dan Aykroyd’s Ghostbuster go to Hell script will ever see the light of day, as Ramis appears to be leaning toward a Ghostbusters: The New Class type of movie.  The full quote and a bunch of speculation is after the jump.

In an interview in the UK on Channel 4 [via AICN], Sigourney Weaver has released more info on the long-rumored Ghostbusters 3 than we’ve ever received.  Weaver says while her role may be small, her character’s son Oscar, who was kidnapped in the second film by a crazed Peter MacNicol, has grown up and become a ghostbuster.  But Ms. Weaver had an even greater revelation:

“I might be in it and I see nothing wrong with being in it, although I don’t think I will have a big part in it. I think Bill Murray has a little more to do with it – he might be a ghost.”

So will Oscar have to bust Venkman?  Will Venkman begin a torrid love affair with Slimer?  What does it all mean?  Well, nothing right now.  The Office co-executive producers Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky are still working on the script.  Perhaps the latest draft Weaver read had these elements, but remember: Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ivan Reitman all have to sign off on the script meaning that these plot points may be gone if Ghostbusters 3 ever gets made.  Sadly, no one ever consults Ernie Hudson.

Hit the jump to check out the segment of the Channel 4 interview where Weaver talks about the third Ghostbusters.

Opening tomorrow is director Harold Ramis’ new comedy “Year One”. To help promote the film, our partners at Omelete were invited to New York City to interview everyone involved and they sent me. So thanks to them, after the jump you can watch our exclusive video interview with director Harold Ramis.

During the interview, we talked about how the movie got put together, what’s on the DVD/Blu-ray, the massive sets that were built, what Bible story had to be cut due to budget, and, of course, I asked about “Ghostbusters 3″. It’s a great interview so take a look:

It’s a little hard to believe that the “Ghostbusters” franchise has been dormant for so long (it’s not like the second film was a catastrophe of “Batman & Robin” proportions) but now “Ghostbusters” has risen from the dead with a videogame debuting this summer and now Dan Aykroyd telling the LA Times that the third film in the series could start filming as soon this winter.

While some elements are still in flux (such as the plot details), Aykroyd cements some elements:

- Ivan Reitman will NOT return to direct the third film as he’s far too busy with his producing commitments.  However, Dr. Egon Spengler, Harold Ramis, could possibly direct the new installment.

- Aykroyd, Ramis, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, and Sigourney Weaver will all return but in a reduced capacity.  Aykroyd wisely notes, “I’d like it to be a passing-of-the-torch movie. Let’s revisit the old characters briefly and happily and have them there as family but let’s pass it on to a new generation.”  I couldn’t agree more.  While we all love how these actors portrayed their characters, no one wants to guys in their sixties strapping on proton packs.

Hit the jump to read who Aykroyd would like to see fill out the beige jumpsuits.