Several months ago, The LEGO Movie directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller were rumored to be in talks to direct Ghostbusters 3 after Ivan Reitman, who directed the first two Ghostbusters, dropped out.  A couple weeks later, it was reported that Lord and Miller had turned down the gig, thus deflating the hopes of people who may have been cold on the idea of a third Ghostbusters movie, but thought the talented duo might have an intriguing take on the material.

At the press junket for Lord and Miller's new film, 22 Jump Street, Steve asked the directors about their involvement with Ghostbusters 3, discussions behind the scenes about the sequel, their thoughts about the original, reasons they've turned down projects, and more.  Click on the respective links for what they had to say about a Clone High movie and The LEGO Movie 2.

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Image via Warner Bros.

When asked directly about whether or not they were asked to direct Ghostbusters 3, Lord and Miller didn't say, but they did point out that people shouldn't be so quick to dismiss a new film:

Collider:  Were you asked to direct Ghostbusters 3?

PHIL LORD:  Rumors are things that are crazy.

CHRIS MILLER:  All I'll say is that we love Sony, and I think there's a lot of hate out there, online, for Ghostbusters.  I don't understand it.

LORD:  I think it's misplaced.  The idea that there might be another one should be exciting to people.  It's exciting to us.

MILLER:  If our careers prove anything, it's that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.  There's often a good way to do things.  And that's such a great concept and tone that I can't believe people are so negative about it. 

I might be in the minority, but I’m totally on board for another Ghostbusters movie done right.  The real time between the last one and the new one—

MILLER:  A continuation, much like how 21 Jump Street acknowledges the previous existence of the 21 Jump Street TV show.

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Image via Columbia Pictures

The directors also pointed out that there's a lot of effort behind the scenes to get the film going, but to do it the right way.

LORD:  Because we're at Sony, because we talk to them all the time about a lot of different stuff, all we can tell you is that everyone's heart is in the exact same place, which is that there's a great Ghostbusters movie out there, it's a really important franchise for them, and trying to find the right thing.

MILLER:  They're having the 30th anniversary and whatnot.  It's such a great movie.  And the first half of the second movie is pretty good too.

LORD:  And they understand what's so great about it.

Lord also pointed out one of the fascinating aspects of the original Ghostbusters isn't just how it's funny, but how it's also tied into the time period and culture, and how that needs to be kept in mind for Ghostbusters 3:

LORD:  I do think every conversation we had with the studio and Ivan [Reitman] all appreciate what's so great about the first movie, and how it does the things we love in comedy.  It's a comedy that's meaningful.  That first movie isn't just about guys busting ghosts.  It's about guys starting a business in the 80s, and what it meant for guys who were counterculture to go straight.  And that was a really interesting story.  And the question is, "What's the contemporary interpretation of that?"

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Image via Warner Bros.

The snap reaction is "The Internet!" but that's a facile response.  However, I do like the thought process of saying this should be more than just a younger cast busting ghosts and cracking jokes.

Finally, while you may think that the monster success of Lord and Miller's movies means they get to do whatever they want, they still have their limits:

Was there something offered by any studio that you really wanted to take, but couldn't?

MILLER:  Yes. [laughs]

LORD:  There's stuff, but we can't really tell you what it is.  It's not fair to anybody else.  But every once in a while there's something where you go, "Aw, man.  I really want to do that, but…I'm tired, the timing, they want to move faster than I want to move, I know it will ruin my life and my relationships and my physical health and stuff like that," and you just have to say, "No."

Watch what Lord and Miller had to say about Ghostbusters below.  Here’s what Phil Lord and Chris Miller had to say about The LEGO Movie 2, and what they had to say about a possible Clone High Movie.  Look for more with Lord and Miller soon.

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