Ever since the thought of doing a third 'Ghostbusters' film entered the minds of the franchise chieftains, it's been a horrendous uphill struggle. Most of the drama surrounding this proposed project has come from original cast member Bill Murray who at first ignored the buzz and questions about a third film, and then reportedly put a copy of the initial script he was sent through a shredder and mailed it back to co-star/writer Harold Ramis. However through it all, Murray remained the linchpin to the film getting made. Well now, fellow star Dan Aykroyd finally seems ready to give up the ghost. While promoting his Crystal Head vodka, Aykroyd revealed that not only is it assured that Murray will not be in 'Ghostbusters 3'and that the film itself may be dead. Here's what he had to say to UK's The Telegraph...

I honestly don’t know. At this point it’s in suspended animation. The studio, the director Ivan Reitman and Harold Ramis feel there must be a way to do it, but Bill Murray will not do the movie. He doesn’t want to be involved. He’s got six kids, houses all over America. He golfs in these tournaments where they pay him to turn up and have a laugh. He’s into this life and living it. I know we’d have a lot of fun [but] I can’t be mad at him. He’s a friend first, a colleague second. We have a deep personal relationship that transcends business and he doesn’t want to know.

As much as die hard 'Ghostbusters' fans, myself included, would love to see another film, at this point I think it's better that this project goes the way of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. If Murray is so dead-set against doing the third film, I'd much rather it not happen than, say, see a 'Ghostbusters 3' wherein Peter Venkman has been recast; something writers Aykroyd and Ramis had considered at one point. I'm not entirely sure why Murray is so adamantly against being in another 'Ghostbusters' film, but I'm glad the writers don't seem to be trying to force a film into production without him. I guess what I'm saying is that, if Murray is definitely out, I'm not heartbroken that 'Ghostbusters 3' has, for the time being, been remanded to the containment unit.

But what do you guys think? Do you hold out any hope that we'll eventually see 'Ghostbusters 3?' If so, would you want to see it without Murray?

Source: The Telegraph