Dan Aykroyd Still Talking 'Ghostbusters 3,' Hints Bill Murray Could Be Re-Cast

They eventually made a fourth Indiana Jones. That's what I tell myself each time Dan Aykroyd comes out and speaks, with the utmost confidence, that a third Ghostbusters will eventually be made. Like the Jones sequel, Ghostbusters 3 is a movie that has been long rumored and discussed ad nauseum. So I figure if Spielberg, Lucas and Ford can find a common ground after years of conjecture, the same will probably happen for the Ghostbusters crew.

Of course, we all know the main hold out has been Bill Murray but in the latest twist, Aykroyd suggests they could "Jack Ryan" that role and just make it with someone else. I wonder what Sony has to say about that. Read more after the jump.

The info came from a chat Aykroyd had with Empire Online. They don't list his exact quote on the hypothetical recasting but, if Murray refused to do it, that would be the only option. Unfortunately, we've heard in the past the only way a studio would pay for the movie is if Murray was part of it. (I'm still unclear on this point though. Even without Murray, Ghostbusters 3 would make plenty of money).

Aykroyd commented on many other things too, such as was his desire to have Rick Moranis in the film:

If we can get the script to Ghostbusters 3 right, then it would definitely have Moranis as a major component. None of us would want to do the movie without having him as a participant.

That in itself is an issue as Moranis is famously reclusive and hasn't appeared on screen in a film since 1996's Big Bully.

Aykroyd also denied the rumor that Murray shredded the script and sent it back to Aykroyd with the note: ""No one wants to pay money to see fat, old men chasing ghosts:"

Bill Murray is not capable of such behaviour. This is simply something that would not be in his nature. We have a deep, private personal relationship that transcends business. We communicate frequently and his position on the involvement in Ghostbusters 3 has been made clear and I respect that. But Bill has too much positive estimation of my writing skills to shred the work.

The script in question, though, apparently still needs work even though he's said it's been done:

The script must be perfect. We cannot release a film that is any less than that. We have more work to do.

So basically we're back where we started. A hypothetical film with an unfinished script and at least two major stars unwilling to appear, the biggest of which could now, possibly, be replaced. Yeah, not the best place for Ghostbusters 3. Still, there's money to be made and a franchise to bastardize. It'll happen eventually.

Do you think Ghostbusters 3 could be made without Bill Murray? Who could possibly play that role?