Warning: this piece contains likely spoilers for Ghostbusters 3

News of a third installment in the Ghostbusters franchise has been running for quite some time now but it has really hit a high point in the last year after Harold Ramis “confirmed” it, with The Office writers Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupinsky working on the script. Ivan Reitman, director of the original two films, has now confirmed he will be directing and that the script is complete. One of the stopgaps to the whole project, however, was Bill Murray, who has been wary at the prospect of a third film for seemingly as long as it’s been discussed. However, it now seems that he’s willing to return, but under an unusual guideline.

“‘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.’”, he told the British source Mail Online. This is the first I’ve ever heard of this proposition, and with this the whole idea of a third film seems rather interesting. While I personally am not enthusiastic about the prospect of a third Ghostbusters due to the likelihood it will only be more of “going back to the well”, the idea of having a ghost Peter Venkman, the second best Ghostbuster next to only Egon Spengler, could make a neat new story point in what would likely otherwise be an unnecessary and stale film. How this is executed is the most crucial aspect, of course, but the fact that they are willing to go with a more unique approach gives me some hope for the film.

What do you think of this plot idea for Ghostbusters 3?