The Ghostbusters franchise has continued to be popular since the original film debuted in 1984, despite the fact that it has been dormant for the majority of that time. The franchise delivered two movies in the ‘80s, but fans spent years hoping to see a Ghostbusters 3 materialize that never really happened. While it’s been often reported that Bill Murray holding out on Ghostbusters 3 was one of the big reasons it never happened, it appears he wasn’t the only one.

Jason Reitman, the writer and director of the two recent Ghostbusters movies, and the son of original franchise director Ivan Reitman, recently revealed that his dad had little love for the concept of sequels in general, which also led to one of the strangest parts of the entire franchise: the one time he did actually make a sequel.

Ghostbusters Director Ivan Reitman Hated Sequels

Jason Reitman recently appeared on the Blocks Podcast with Neil Brennan, where he talked over his entire film career. In discussing Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Reitman the younger revealed that his dad didn’t understand why so many movie fans wanted to go backward. Apparently Ivan Reitman was a fan of the more original ideas introduced in Ghostbusters: Afterlife, but less so of the parts that specifically dealt with plot points from the original movie. Reitman said…

It’s easy to see that Ivan Reitman didn’t love sequels. Ghostbusters II is the only one he ever directed. He also once told our own ReelBlend podcast that he wouldn't have directed Ghostbusters 3 if the movie had ever happened. While another popular Reitman movie, the aforementioned Twins, has had fans hoping for a sequel for decades, the closest the director ever got was making Junior, another comedy that starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito, but with a completely original story, which sounds exactly like the sort of thing Jason Reitman is talking about.

The Ghostbusters II Logo Appearing In The Film Was “Probably A Mistake”

It’s fine to say that Ivan Reitman didn’t like sequels, but there is also evidence that proves that point unequivocally. One of the strangest things in Ghostbusters II is the fact that the logo on the side of the Ghostbusters car is actually the movie’s logo, a point that makes zero sense within the context of the film. It turns out Jason Reitman once asked his dad about that, and the answer indicates how little thought he gave it at the time…

Ivan Reitman may not have loved sequels, but it seems Jason Reitman has no problem with them. While there is no indication yet if we will see a sequel to Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, a third Ghostbusters film in this era of the franchise seems much more likely to happen now than it ever did in the ‘80s.

As the Saturday Night release date approaches this October, writer/director Jason Reitman showed the movie to the world for the first time at the 51st Telluride Film Festival last month. The world premiere was an especially sweet moment for one of the latest upcoming 2024 movies because he got Bill Murray on stage to help present the movie. As it turns out, there’s a sweet story behind how it happened.

Bill Murray Made A Surprise Appearance At The Premiere Of Saturday Night

If you wanted to see how Jason Reitman and Bill Murray presented Saturday Night while at the Colorado film festival, you can take a look below. Check out this TikTok via Variety editor Clayton Davis:

Jason Reitman had some sweet things to say about his time as a Saturday Night Live writer before talking about the making of the movie that embodies the chaotic nature of the sketch show’s first time on the air. Then, he introduced Bill Murray, who very kindly said his three seasons on the show was his “greatest work experience” before showing a lot of love to Reitman and his late father Ivan Reitman, with whom he made Ghostbusters, Stripes and Meatballs.

The Sweet Way The Saturday Night Premiere Moment Came About

So how did Jason Reitman nab Bill Murray for the premiere moment? As it happens, Murray was already at the festival for his drama The Friend. Here’s what happened, per Reitman:

While speaking to Deadline, Reitman shared that the moment actually happened on accident given the two Ghostbusters: Afterlife collaborators were both at the festival at the same time. Reitman also said this:

While Bill Murray is not portrayed in the movie given that he didn’t join until Season 2, his buddy Dan Aykroyd is portrayed by Dylan O’Brien, along with Lorne Michaels, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, John Belushi and more being portrayed in the film. As Reitman continued:

Reitman also shared with the publication that the premiere was a tough moment for him because he realized that it's the last script of his his father read and the first movie of his he’ll never see. Ivan Reitman died at the age of 75 back in 2022 just months after he saw his son bring back Ghostbusters with 2021’s Afterlife. Amidst the bittersweet emotions Jason Reitman was feeling that night, what an amazing moment to be introduced by Bill Murray!

You can look forward to reliving the first night of SNL when Saturday Night hits theaters on October 11.

While it’s certainly glorious to see the Ghostbusters franchise back in action with Frozen Empire, it's also sadly the first movie in the series to be made without Ivan Reitman’s presence. Reitman directed the first two Ghostbusters movies and served as a producer on 2021’s Afterlife, which was released just a few months before he died at the age of 75. When CinemaBlend spoke to the cast of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, we asked the cast to imagine how the late director/producer may have reacted to the latest installment. 

When CinemaBlend’s own Sean O’Connell spoke to the Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire cast, he asked them to imagine which scene from the new movie they might want to watch alongside the late Ivan Reitman. Here’s what Carrie Coon had to say:  

While the new generation of Ghostbusters cast members were never directed by Ivan Reitman, they were directed by his son, Jason Reitman, who took up the reins of the series for Afterlife. Per Coon, Ivan Reitman, who was a producer on Afterlife, was often on the set of the 2021 movie and would work closely with his son to fine-tune the Ghostbusters movie. 

Finn Wolfhard, who is back as Trevor Spengler in Frozen Empire, also commented on the question, sharing his memories of Ivan Reitman while answering which sequence he’d like the late filmmaker to see. In his words: 

Ivan Reitman certainly left a massive mark on the Ghostbusters franchise by helming the original and very iconic ‘80s movies starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson (all of which come back for Frozen Empire, except for Ramis who died back in 2014). In addition to helming the first two Ghostbusters movies, the filmmaker made a ton of other great movies such as Twins, Meatballs, Stripes and Kindergarten Cop.  

For Frozen Empire, Jason Reitman co-wrote the script with Gil Kenan after the pair previously wrote Afterlife together, but this time Kenan directed the film. This past weekend, the new Ghostbusters movie won the box office with a $45 million debut. The movie has been met with mixed reviews from critics (check out CinemaBlend’s Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire review) and generally positive thoughts from audiences (it earned a B+ on CinemaScore). 

Elsewhere in CinemaBlend’s interviews with the Frozen Empire cast, McKenna Grace shared why Dan Aykroyd was the highlight of her time on the Ghostbusters sequel and Paul Rudd spoke to the downside of playing a Ghostbuster. You can look forward to more exclusive interviews for 2024 movies here on CinemaBlend.

The last project that Jason Reitman got to work on with his father was Ghostbusters: Afterlife – where he served as director and his father was the producer. Sadly, Ivan Reitman passed away in February this year. He gave us excellent movies like the first two Ghostbuster movies, Stripes, Meatballs, Twins, Kindergarten Cop, Junior, and more. It's hard when anyone loses a parent, and Reitman is lucky he has a great friend like Charlize Theron, as she was there for him after his father died.

It’s always a privilege to be surrounded by friends when you lose someone very important to you. Jason Reitman had that in Charlize Theron, and he recently told Harper’s Bazaar the sweet way she was there for him after his father passed. Said the filmmaker,

That must explain why Jason Reitman has a good working relationship with Charlize Theron. Some of her best movies came from their collaboration together, as he directed her in Young Adult and Tully. After Theron blew away audiences with her Oscar-winning role in Monster, Reitman allowed her to continue playing complex characters that audiences can relate to emotionally. The 47-year-old actress said to The National Board of Review that she never felt the need to hold back from him on set and hopes they keep making more movies together. She described Tully as her favorite working experience.

Charlize Theron wasn’t the only person to think of Ivan Reitman as soon as he passed. Arnold Schwarzenegger paid tribute to the famed director, with whom he collaborated on Kindergarten Cop and Junior, thanking him for using an Austrian actor like himself to be in his comedies. Jimmy Kimmell also remembered the Ghostbusters director by posting a photo of his young son dressed as Venkman from the supernatural comedy film. Jennifer Garner shared an emotional tribute thanking her Draft Day director for all of his work and recalling the many conversations she cherished with him. Based on all these tributes, it appears that Ivan Reitman was a director dedicated to his craft and will be missed by many who knew of his works and had the honor to work with him.

Jason Reitman wrote a tribute to his “hero” as well where he said “nothing would make him happier” than if people continued to enjoy his movies and remember who he was as a storyteller. When his father was alive, Reitman knew that he had to make a Ghostbusters movie all with his father in mind. The Juno filmmaker will continue to make his father proud as he plans on working with Netflix for a Ghostbusters animated series.

Charlize Theron helped Jason Reitman find laughter again while he was mourning his father. Hopefully, we can see the two of them collaborate again very soon. Be sure to take a look at CinemaBlend’s upcoming movie releases to be aware of when you’ll see the actor's next movie or Jason Reitman work again on the big screen.

Over the past few years, there’s been a ton of conversation about how people are treated within the entertainment industry. This discourse came as a result of the #MeToo movement, and the various allegations made against powerful men in the film world like Harvey Weinstein. Comedian/actress Anna Faris unfortunately has her own story, recalling when late filmmaker Ivan Retiman screamed at her on set, while also claiming that he slapped her butt.

Ivan Reitman was an acclaimed filmmaker known for working on beloved comedies like Ghostbusters, Animal House, and Kindergarten Cop. Actress and podcaster Anna Faris collaborated with him on My Super Ex-Girlfriend, and recently shared on her podcast Unqualified that she had a hard time working with him. While in conversation with her guest Lena Dunham, Faris revealed that she got screamed at by Reitman on the first day of her movie, specifically in a fight sequence opposite Kill Bill icon Uma Thurman. As she put it,

According to Anna Faris, he received the ire of Ivan Reitman that day because she arrived 20 minutes late to set. But that wasn’t because she was being a diva or running late, a bottle of wig glue was spilled on her and her costume in the trailer. And as such, she had to get cleaned up before showing up to film her first My Super Ex-Girlfriend scene.

Anna Faris’ comments come from her recent episode of Unqualified, where she’d heard debating whether or not she should even share her Ivan Reitman story and speak ill of the dead. In the end she decides to share her truth, while also confirming that he was the director who once slapped her butt on set in front of the cast and crew. She kept it brief, saying:

Some of the hardcore fans of Anna Faris might remember that the Scary Movie actress previously described being groped on a movie set back in 2017. This was as the #MeToo movement was truly changing conversations, and encouraging various professionals to share their own experience. Without naming Ivan Reitman at the time, she shared her experience from the movie’s set, saying:

While this incident occurred around 15 years ago, clearly it’s a memory that Anna Faris still carries. One can only imagine how complicated her feelings about it became after Ivan Reitman passed away back in February of this year. Meanwhile, the filmmaker’s legacy has continued on with the release of Ghostsbusters: Afterlife and its planned sequel.

Anna Faris is currently in pre-production for her next movie Tunnels opposite Patrick Wilson and Alicia Silverstone. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

The spirit of the original Ghostbusters returned (figuratively and literally) this past fall when Ghostbusters: Afterlife hit theaters and became both well-received critically and a surprise box office hit. Following that success, writer/director Jason Reitman plans to keep telling stories about the Spengler family with an officially announced Afterlife sequel is in the works, a script is in development and now we have more key details about what's to come.

CinemaBlend was present during Ecto-Fest, which took place on the Sony Lot in Los Angeles, California alongside major Ghostbusters fans and press. During the Wednesday evening event, Jason Reitman and Ghostbusters: Afterlife co-writer Gil Kenan took the stage to officially share that they are currently writing another Ghostbusters movie and it will continue to follow the characters established in the recent 2021 film. And in even more exciting news, the story will be officially moving to Manhattan next! 

As Reitman and Kenan shared, when they were making Afterlife they used the codename "Rust City" but for the upcoming sequel their codename will be "Firehouse." Get it? It will serve as a continuation to Afterlife's ending, where Ecto-1 was driving back to Manhattan, and as Kenan teased and reminded attendees is "the home of Ghostbusters." 

During the presentation, the Ghostbusters filmmakers did not reveal the film's official title, but the word "Firehouse" was shown in red bold letters alongside a drawing of the Ghostbusters firehouse to tease it being a central location to the next chapter. Ahead of their appearances, Ernie Hudson, who memorably plays Winston Zeddemore, also began the announcements with an appearance as well and hinted at what's next a bit, saying this: 

Back in April at CinemaCon, Sony officially confirmed that another Ghostbusters movie was on its way, but details were so thin it wasn't clear about what exactly this would entail. Now we know it will be a straight sequel, and most definitely connect the dots of the after credit scene involving Ernie Hudson, where he tours his latest purchase, the original Ghostbusters firehouse. At the end of the movie, he said, “I may be a businessman, but I’ll always be a Ghostbuster.” Perhaps, he'll really get back into it in the upcoming movie? 

Along with a sequel to Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Reitman and Kenan also spoke about the Netflix animated series announced earlier today and a newly announced Sony Animation film in the works from a script writer Brenda Hsueh and directors Chris Prynoski and Jennifer Kluska. 

While speaking at the Ghostbusters Day event, the original Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman also came up often, especially in the wake of the filmmaker's recent death at the age of 75 in February. At the event, it was announced that the late filmmaker officially has a section of the Sony lot named after him, "Ivan Reitman Way." Jason Reitman, who is the son of Ivan, shared how the future of Ghostbusters remains connected to the director who started it all. In his words:

No release date has been claimed for the next Ghostbusters movie, but it's certainly exciting to hear the Sony franchise is finally expanding in a big way. We'll keep you updated here on CinemaBlend with more exclusive news about movies and television. 

Although a sequel to the Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito-led comedy Twins has been in development since 2012, the project, now officially titled Triplets, has been making significant progress forward since last December. Sadly, director Ivan Reitman, who helmed Twins and planned to return for Triplets, passed away on February 12 at the age of 75. Now Schwarzenegger has shared an update on where Triplets currently stands following Reitman’s death.

This past weekend saw the Arnold Sports Festival being held in Columbus, Ohio, and while fitness and sports were obviously the main focus of the event, Arnold Schwarzenegger also spent some time talking about his upcoming projects. On the subject of Triplets, the actor said this (via The Arnold Fans):

It was to be expected that Ivan Reitman dying would impact the development of Triplets, but as things stand now, Arnold Schwarzenegger and everyone else involved with the project are pressing on it. That’s not to say Triplets is being scrapped, but at the very least, a new director needs to be found in the coming months if production is to still begin in October. Still, it seems that the sequel is on shakier ground now compared to just a few months ago.

Twins marked Arnold Schwarzenegger’s entry into the world of comedy after becoming famous from action movies like Conan the Barbarian and The Terminator, while Danny DeVito was arguably best known at the time for playing Louie de Palma in the ABC series Taxi. The 1988 comedy starred the two actors as fraternal twins Julius and Vincent, who came into existence from a secret government program that combined the DNA of six fathers. The Twins cast also included Kelly Preston, Chloe Webb, Bonnie Bartlett and David Caruso, and the movie was met with a lot of positive critical reception and made over $216 million worldwide.

Aside from Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito reprising their respective roles, all we know about Triplets is that Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock alum Tracy Morgan will star as the third sibling. Eddie Murphy was originally hired for that role, but according to Ivan Reitman, scheduling conflicts with other projects he signed onto following the success of Coming 2 America on Amazon Prime Video. Beyond that, no Triplets plot details have been revealed, but assuming the sequel does ultimately get off the ground, hopefully we’ll learn more about what to expect from it once cameras start rolling.

In the meantime, look through the lineup of upcoming 2022 movies to see what catches your eye, and keep visiting CinemaBlend for the latest updates on other highly-anticipated big and small screen projects.

The world has lost yet another influential comedic talent whose work has been key to the modern evolution of the genre on the big screen. On February 12, 2022, Ivan Reitman passed away at the age of 75, leaving behind a golden legacy as the writer and/or director of some of the funniest and, simply, most fun films of all time, including the original Ghostbusters and plenty more. 

Following the beloved filmmaker’s death, his son, Jason Reitman - a successful filmmaker himself - said that “nothing would make him happier” than to “enjoy his movies and remember his storytelling gifts.” As our own tribute, that is exactly we intend to do. The following are some of the best Ivan Reitman movies with a tip on how to watch them on streaming, as a digital rental, or on physical media.

Ghostbusters And Ghostbusters II (1984, 1989)

Four men (Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson) - three of whom are former parapsychologists - team up and start a business using experimental technology to rid New York City of bizarre threats from beyond the grave.

Why they are great Ivan Reitman movies: Written by stars Aykroyd and Ramis (who passed away in 2014), Ghostbusters is, arguably, Ivan Reitman’s defining and most inspirational work as a director, spawning an even stranger sequel (Ghostbusters II), an all-female remake in 2016, and a third installment that saw the filmmaker’s son take the reigns in 2021.

Rent/buy Ghostbusters digitally on Amazon.
Rent/buy Ghostbusters II digitally on Amazon.
Buy Ghostbusters And Ghostbusters II on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Meatballs (1979)

An irresponsible, womanizing summer camp counselor (Bill Murray) decides to turn over a new leaf and tries to help his younger campers break their longtime losing streak at the annual Camp Olympics.

Why it is a great Ivan Reitman movie: Before Ghostbusters took off, the first time Ivan Reitman directed Bill Murray was in Meatballs - just about the craziest and raunchiest coming-of-age comedy set at a summer camp ever made.

Stream Meatballs on Tubi.
Stream Meatballs on IMDb TV.

Rent/buy Meatballs digitally on Amazon.
Buy Meatballs on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Stripes (1981)

A pair of irresponsible, dissatisfied grown men (Bill Murray and Harold Ramis) decide to turn over a new leaf and enlist in the United States Army, but the experience proves to be a little more than they bargained for.

Why it is a great Ivan Reitman movie: The second time Ivan Reitman directed Bill Murray (and the first time he directed Harold Ramis) was in Stripes - easily the craziest and raunchiest satire about war ever made.

Stream Stripes on Netflix.
Rent/buy Stripes digitally on Amazon.
Buy Stripes on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Legal Eagles (1986)

A womanizing New York City district attorney (Academy Award winner Robert Redford) teams up with a no-nonsense defense lawyer (Academy Award nominee Debra Winger) on a case involving an attractive woman wrongfully accused of murder (Daryl Hannah), that becomes even more sinister upon further investigation.

Why it is a great Ivan Reitman movie: After Ghostbusters, Ivan Reitman went in a very different direction with Legal Eagles - a notably breezy take on the courtroom drama genre with a stellar starring cast that is not without its own thrills and suspense, either.

Rent/buy Legal Eagles digitally on Amazon.
Buy Legal Eagles on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Twins (1988)

After discovering that he has a twin brother, a man who was created to be a physically and mentally perfect specimen (Arnold Schwarzenegger) sets out to find his long lost sibling, who turns to be a 4’10” wise guy (Danny DeVito) with a tremendous loan debt that puts his life in danger.

Why it is a great Ivan Reitman movie: The first time Ivan Reitman directed his friend Arnold Schwarzenegger, which would also be his first starring role in a comedy, was in Twins - a fun, inventive story about brotherly love that almost spawned a sequel called Triplets, in which Julius and Vincent would have discovered they have another brother played by Tracy Morgan.

Rent/buy Twins digitally on Amazon.
Buy Twins on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Kindergarten Cop (1990)

A hard-hitting detective (Arnold Schwarzenegger) goes undercover as a teacher at an elementary school in order to find and protect the former wife and young son of a dangerous criminal.

Why it is a great Ivan Reitman movie: The second time Ivan Reitman directed Arnold Schwarzenegger, which saw the former bodybuilder utilize his strengths as both an action star and a comedy performer, was in Kindergarten Cop - a heartwarming fish-out-of-water tale that actually did spawn an unrelated, straight-to-video sequel starring Schwarzenegger’s Expendables co-star, Dolph Lundgren.

Stream Kindergarten Cop on Peacock.
Rent/buy Kindergarten Cop digitally on Amazon.
Buy Kindergarten Cop on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Junior (1994)

After their funding is cut, a scientist (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is convinced by his research partner (Danny DeVito) to try out their revolutionary fertility project on a new unlikely test subject: himself.

Why it is a great Ivan Reitman movie: The second time Ivan Reitman directed Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito together was in Junior - yet another inventive story about bizarre family matters that most definitely also qualifies as a fish-out-of-water tale of heartwarming proportions.

Rent/buy Junior digitally on Amazon.
Buy Junior on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Six Days Seven Nights (1998)

An uptight magazine editor from New York (Anne Heche) enlists a grumpy pilot (Harrison Ford) to fly her to a nearby island to cover a big story, but must overcome their mutual disdain for one another when their plane crashes and leaves them stranded on an island inhabited with dangerous creatures.

Why it is a great Ivan Reitman movie: Another action star whom Ivan Reitman directed to amusing comedic effect was Harrison Ford, opposite Anne Heche, in the adventurous romantic comedy, Six Days Seven Nights, which also stars David Schwimmer from the Friends cast and The Book of Boba Fett star Temuera Morrison.

Stream Six Days Seven Nights on IMDb TV.
Rent/buy Six Days Seven Nights digitally on Amazon.
Buy Six Days Seven Nights on DVD on Amazon.

Dave (1993)

Initially hired to be a momentary stand-in for the President of the United States, a temp agency operator who happens to be a dead ringer for the Commander in Chief (Academy Award winner Kevin Kline) suddenly has to do the job for real when his doppelgänger suffers a massive stroke.

Why it is a great Ivan Reitman movie: Also starring Sigourney Weaver as the First Lady and with a cameo by Arnold Schwarzenegger as himself, Dave is one of the few political satires with a refreshing sense of joy, optimism, and even a little romance, that may also be Ivan Reitman’s smartest achievement.   

Rent/buy Dave digitally on Amazon.
Buy Dave on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Evolution (2001)

A pair of college professors (David Duchovny and Orlando Jones), a stern government scientist (Julianne Moore), and a wannabe firefighter (Seann William Scott) team up against an extraterrestrial organism that begins to rapidly change in size and species the moment it suddenly falls to Earth in a meteor.

Why it is a great Ivan Reitman movie: Nearly two-decades after making one of the great sci-fi comedies of all time with Ghostbusters, Ivan Reitman would tackle that subgenre once again with Evolution - an underrated and clever gem that also sees David Duchovny poking fun at his own career as a sci-fi star from playing Fox Mulder on The X-Files.

Rent/buy Evolution digitally on Amazon.
Buy Evolution on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Draft Day (2014)

Personal matters and a pressing desire to save the state of football in Cleveland complicate things for a general manager (Academy Award winner Kevin Costner) as he runs out of time to decide which up-and-coming athletes to add to his team.

Why it is a great Ivan Reitman movie: For what would become his final feature-length directorial effort, Ivan Reitman offers a tense, often gripping look at the inside world of football in Draft Day, starring someone who is certainly no stranger to sports movies, Kevin Costner.

Rent/buy Draft Day digitally on Amazon.
Buy Draft Day on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Considering how his career was predominantly quirky, lighthearted comedies, it seems a little unusual to see a serious sports drama show up on the list of Ivan Reitman’s best movies. However, that sort of surprise is just what made him such a special filmmaker who always sought to reinvent himself and try something new, daring, or bizarre at every chance. You only find that kind of will and versatility in a handful of filmmakers every so often and, for that and many other reasons, Reitman will be dearly missed.

Since Ivan Reitman passed away at age 75, there’s been a flood of emotional tributes from Hollywood stars, filmmakers, and others. There’s another star who decided to sing the praises of Reitman – Draft Day’s Jennifer Garner. Garner was her sweet self as she penned an emotional tribute to the director.

The Draft Day star proved why she’s one of Hollywood’s nicest stars by posting a heartfelt message to the late director on her Instagram. Jennifer Garner chose to speak about the time she spent making the sports film under Ivan Reitman’s direction. She started her tribute by saying of the Ghostbusters director:

It seemed like Jennifer Garner and Ivan Reitman formed an unexpected bond while shooting the film. Reitman was attentive as he noticed Garner’s process during every scene. He seemed to be in tune with her as he used positive reinforcement. According to the actress, she almost crossed paths with her Draft Day director once again, but fate has other plans.

Posting the beautiful tribute to the late director was Garner’s way of making amends for missing her opportunity to reconnect with him. While she didn’t go to the dinner, Jennifer Garner decided to highlight Reitman’s best films. At least, now, she got to say her final words to Ivan Reitman with her brand of genuineness. To see what Garner said in her full tribute, check out her full post below.

Garner mentioned having the chance to work with the Stripes director as well as his son Jason Reitman. She starred in one of her best movies - the cult classic Juno, which was directed by the younger Reitman. Like Garner, the younger Reitman spoke out on what his father would want the most by making a statement on Twitter. He referred to the late director as his “hero” while thanking fans and friends for the condolences. His tribute came on the heels of multiple stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ernie Hudson, and Carrie Coon telling stories of their time with the older Reitman.

Hearing stories of Ivan Reitman the man puts his film contributions in perspective. Late-night host Jimmy Kimmell illustrated Reitman's impact by posting a sweet Halloween photo of his son as Ghostbusters' Peter Venkman. Hopefully, more stories will come out as Reitman’s memory continues to live on.

The film community continues to mourn the loss of filmmaker Ivan Reitman, who helmed beloved movies like Ghostbusters and Stripes. Since Reitman’s death at the age of 75 this past weeked, many in Hollywood have taken to social media to memorialize in their own way. Talk show host and pop culture junkie Jimmy Kimmel is one of the latest to honor the iconic director. And he did so by posting a sweet photo of his son dressed as Bill Murray’s Peter Venkman for Halloween. 

Though the original Ghostbusters films were released decades ago, the franchise has more than endured, as evidenced by the fact that a new installment was released just last November. The paranormal film property, however, has also managed to stay around because fans like Jimmy Kimmel have been sharing it with newer generations. The series is truly timeless, a notion that Kimmel sweetly expressed in the caption of his Instagram post:

Very few franchises have that kind of staying power, so it’s incredibly satisfying whenever younger people indulge in the Ghostbusters fandom. Believe me when I say that Jimmy Kimmel’s son, Billy, is far from the only youngster to don a jumpsuit and Proton Pack ahead of trick-or-treating. (Even the kids on Stranger Things did it, though that show does take place in the ‘80s.) You can check out the sweet photo down below:

The tributes to Ivan Reitman have been really great to see though, as a Ghostbusters fan, I’d be lying if I said the ones related to that film franchise didn’t hit me the hardest. Series alums like Ernie Hudson and Carrie Coon have shared sweet thoughts on their former collaborator. Reitman’s son, Afterlife director Jason Reitman, also posted a sentimental tribute to his dad, which included a nice throwback photo. The Oscar-nominated filmmaker, who previously opened up about working with his father, thanked fans for their kind words and encouraged them to keep revisiting his father’s body of work. 

That impressive filmography also includes the classic ‘90s comedy Kindergarten Cop, which stars Arnold Schwarzenegger. Like so many others, the actor issued a statement, in which he praised the director, with whom he also worked on Twins and Junior. Schwarzenegger also thanked the man for “taking a chance” on him years ago. And to top it all off, he lovingly referred to his former director as a “mensch.” 

Ivan Reitman’s body of work will truly stand the test of time, as his various stories have managed to make audiences laugh, cry, gasp, cheer and think. His passing is indeed a tremendous loss, but it’s good to know that so many people, both young and old, will continue to be impacted by his work for years to come in one form or another.

We here at CinemaBlend continue to extend our thoughts to the family and loved ones of Ivan Reitman.

Ivan Reitman’s death rattled many in Hollywood, as the filmmaker had just recently celebrated Ghostbusters’ return to prominence due to Ghostbusters: Afterlife’s successful run. He died unexpectedly at age 75. After hearing the devastating news, tributes began flooding in as stars and filmmakers recount stories of working with or knowing Reitman. Among them is Kindergarten Cop star Arnold Schwarzenegger. The pair worked together on multiple comedies during the 1980s and 1990s, so it was only right that Schwarzenegger got the chance to reminisce and mourn the filmmaker.

Ivan Reitman had directed the Terminator star in classic comedies like Kindergarten Cop and Twins. Arnold Schwarzenegger was devastated by the loss of his dear friend and frequent collaborator, as he penned a heartfelt note to express his condolences. He took to Twitter to tell the world what kind of man Reitman was:

It appeared the Twins actor got the chance to witness the man behind the classic comedies over their years of collaboration. Arnold Schwarzenegger continued to sing the Stripes director’s praises, as he recalled Ivan Reitman helping him to get beyond the action genre and into comedies:

Working with Ivan Reitman helped Arnold Schwarzenegger to show Hollywood he was more than just a brawny action star. At the time, the frequent collaborators were working on the Twins sequel Triplets with Danny DeVito and long-lost brother Tracy Morgan. Seemingly distraught over the news, Schwarzenegger gained a moment of clarity as he spoke about the effect Reitman had on others:

Arnold Schwarzenegger has his memories of Ivan Reitman to live with him despite the director no longer being here physically. To see the full tribute including photos of the two men, check out Arnold Schwarzenegger’s post below.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s touching post was just the latest one paying to the late Meatballs director. Many stars from the Ghostbusters films, including Ernie Hudson and Carrie Coon, posted moving tributes to Reitman. Directors Todd Phillips, Phil Lord and Paul Feig (the latter of whom directed 2016's out-of-continuity Ghostbusters that was left out of the franchise box set) spoke on how supportive he was of their filmmaking careers.

Given how important and influential Ivan Reitman was, there are bound to be more tributes popping up online. His impact won’t be forgotten any time soon.

The cinema community was faced with some sad news this past weekend, as it was reported that beloved filmmaker Ivan Reitman had died at the age of 75. Since then, numerous celebrities have taken the time to pay tribute to the late moviemaking titan. His family also spoke out on his passing via a sweet statement. Now, the late director’s son, Ghostbusters: Afterlife director Jason Reitman, is speaking out about his dad. And in doing so, he revealed the one thing his father would want most right now, saying that “nothing would make him happier.”

Jason Reitman opened up about his feelings for his father in a recent Twitter post. The filmmaker referred to his dad as his “hero” and went on to thank the public for their messages during this time. He also relayed a sweet request for fans, one I agree the late Meatballs director would indeed appreciate:

When it came to Ivan Reitman, one thing that was clear about him was his love of movies, and he definitely knew how to make them. While many film aficionados are probably familiar with the Ghostbusters movies, some may want to take the time to check out other Reitman-helmed classics like Stripes, Twins and Junior. Believe me when I say that you won’t be disappointed when you see them. Of course, aside from his reputation as a great filmmaker, he was also known as a loving father. The photo Jason Reitman included in his post sweetly encapsulates that notion: 

With his father’s reputation in the entertainment industry, Jason Reitman had a lot to live up to when he first entered the business. He, however, managed to make his own mark by helming notable films like Thank You for Smoking, Juno and Up in the Air. In the process, he’s earned a number of accolades and even scored a few Oscar nominations. But taking the reins of Ghostbusters: Afterlife must’ve been somewhat daunting for him, especially since the gig required that he work closely with his dad. The younger Reitman previously spoke about the work dynamic between him and his pop. All in all, he found the experience to be very “meaningful,” though he did note that both of them could be a bit “stubborn” at times. But this is only because they both cared so deeply about getting the long-awaited threequel right. 

The father-son team ultimately succeeded in delivering a solid film. Not only did it find success at the box office, but the movie also garnered mostly positive reactions from critics and general fans. In the midst of the hoopla, the pair actually stopped by CinemaBlend’s own ReelBlend podcast to discuss their work on the paranormal action-comedy. The older Reitman even shared some sweet details about his scrapped plans (including an idea for Bill Murray’s Venkman).

That fact that the two got to work on the production together is truly special and something that Jason Reitman is sure to cherish for the rest of his life. His father’s death definitely hits hard but, as the Afterlife director mentioned, you can still enjoy his body of work. And in the process, you’ll help to ensure that his legacy lives on.

We here at CinemaBlend continue to extend our condolences to Ivan Reitman’s family and loved ones at this time.

Yesterday, the world lost another great talent in writer/director/producer Ivan Reitman who passed away at the age of 75. Reitman was best known for directing the first two Ghostbusters movies, and producing the more recent entries of the franchise. But Reitman has been a huge part of Hollywood for decades, and so a lot of people are remembering Reitman, not just those from inside the Ghostbusters franchise.

Ernie Hudson, who appeared in all the Ghostbusters movies, responded to the news that Ivan Reitman had passed away by sending his condolences to the family of the lost man, including his son, writer/director Jason Reitman, who recently worked with his father on Ghostbusters: Afterlife.  

Fellow Ghostbuster Dan Aykroyd also made a statement to Deadline where he said he was heartbroken at the death of Reitman and you can feel that in the statement.

Ivan Reitman produced the most recent Ghostbusters film, which was directed by his son Jason. A couple of the key cast members who joined the Ghostbusters franchise with the newest movie also shared their thoughts. Carrie Coon, who played the daughter of Harold Ramis’ iconic Ghostbusters character  said it was an “honor” to work with Reitman and to become part of the film series loved by so many.

While Carrie Coon had some powerful things to say about Ivan Reitman, co-star Mckenna Grace had none. She simply posted a picture of herself and Reitman working together on the set of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and added a heart. No words were needed here. 

Love also came to Jason Reitman from Paul Feig, director of the Ghostbusters spinoff project Answer the Call. While that particular film in the franchise has always struggled, Reitman was apparently always supportive of it and those that made it.  

While Ivan Reitman’s name will be synonymous with Ghostbusters forever, he made many more memorable movies. He directed Meatballs, Stripes, Dave, Kindergarten Cop and Twins. He also had a profound impact on the careers of many other filmmakers. Joker director Todd Philips wrote a lengthy Instagram post about the influence that Reitman had on his career. Ivan Reitman produced Philips' earliest features, but also did a lot more… 

Phil Lord posted to Twitter on Ivan Reitman’s passing with similar comments, talking about how supportive he was of his work with co-director Christopher Miller. he was supportive, but he always tried to help them be better. Lord said…

Ivan Reitman clearly made a mark in Hollywood that will be remembered forever. He made great movies that will stand the test of time but he also inspired a generation of filmmakers that have already gone on to make their own mark. He will not soon be forgotten.

After a long career out of making audiences laugh so hard they would fall out of their chairs – directing and producing films like Ghostbusters and Animal House – filmmaker Ivan Reitman has passed away at the age of 75. The news has been confirmed by his family that he died peacefully in his home in Montecito, CA on Saturday night.

The Associated Press received an official statement from Ivan Reitman's children, Jason Reitman, Catherine Reitman and Caroline Reitman, announcing the filmmaker's death. The message states that the family is in mourning, but taking solace in reflecting on the happiness that he made so many people feel during his lifetime:

Ivan Reitman directed his first feature film, Foxy Lady starring Alan Gordon, in 1971, but his first big breakout hit came in 1978 when he produced National Lampoon's Animal House – a movie that to this day is considered a college comedy classic. A year later he directed his first movie starring Bill Murray, the summer camp-set Meatballs, and in the next five years he directed two more features with the star: 1981's Stripes and, of course, the great 1984 horror comedy Ghostbusters.

All three initial collaborations between Ivan Reitman and Murray were successful, but Ghostbusters was far and away the biggest blockbuster smash of the filmmaker's career – earning $297 million worldwide. He continued to make hit after hit through the 1980s and into the 1990s, directing Legal Eagles starring Robert Redford; Twins, Kindergarten Cop, Junior and Twins with Arnold Schwarzenegger; Dave with Kevin Kline; and Ghostbusters II featuring the return of Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson and others as their characters from the original film.

The last movie that Ivan Retman directed was 2014's Draft Day, but he has been active in the years since as a producer. Most recently he had a hands-on role in the making of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which was directed by his son, Jason Reitman, and has been a big box office hit since it was released last November.

Ivan Reitman will be forever remembered as one of the most successful filmmakers to ever work in the comedy genre, and the impact that he made on the industry is permanent and will never be forgotten. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and fans around the globe after such a great loss – and we hope that everyone honors the filmmakers memory by watching or rewatching at least one of his amazing classics.

There are a number of reasons that the Ghostbusters franchise has been widely loved for more than three decades. It features likable characters, packs on the thrills and delivers some great laughs. Despite its popularity though, there’s one question that’s been heavily debated since that original film hit theaters back in 1984. Is that first movie a comedy that has scares or a horror flick that includes jokes? There are arguments to be made on either side of the discussion but, now, director Ivan Reitman has shared his own thoughts on what he was going for with the classic summer hit.

If you’ve seen Ivan Reitman’s films, then you likely know that he’s a pretty thoughtful filmmaker when it comes to nailing a tone. You have to imagine, though, that it was initially tough for him to strike some kind of balance when it came to his ‘80s ghost flick. Both he and his son, Jason (the director behind Ghostbusters: Afterlife), recently appeared on our own ReelBlend podcast. And it was during the chat that the older Reitman set the record straight on the genre he envisioned for the franchise’s initial installment:

It’s definitely easy to see the touches of horror within the movie but, in many ways, the comedy truly does stand above the scares. I mean, when you have brilliant comedic actors like Bill Murray, Harold Ramis and Rick Moranis in your film, chances are you’re going for big laughs. Still, what’s great about the flick is that when it does need to frighten its viewers, it does so in an effective way. 

Ghostbusters was a major swing for the director, who, at the time, had helmed notable comedies like Meatballs and Stripes. And of course, Sony also had a lot riding on the production as well. Though the first public screening included a cut with no special effects, it ultimately proved to be a hit with audiences. Who would’ve thought that over three decades later, we’d still be talking about a green ghoul named Slimer and a massive marshmallow man who caused chaos in Manhattan?

During his recent chat on ReelBlend, Ivan Reitman discussed a number of other cool facts regarding his two installments in the iconic film series. One interesting tidbit is the fact that Sigourney Weaver’s audition actually helped the filmmaker and his team craft the third act. Reitman also shed some light on his own unproduced version of Ghostbusters 3, which would have seen Bill Murray’s Peter Venkman meet his demise. I think fans are pretty grateful that such a plot point didn’t actually come to fruition. 

Jason Reitman seems to have carried his father’s sensibilities into his own installment. Like Ivan, he balances the horror and comedy very well, making for a comedic adventure that contains plenty of moments that will make some moviegoers jump. Even after these recent thoughts from the older of the twoReitmans, fans will likely continue to have their own opinions. Nevertheless, both sides can likely still agree that, however you classify it, Ghostbusters is a great movie. 

Ghostbusters: Afterlife is now playing in theaters, and the first two movies in the series are available to purchase and stream on Amazon Prime Video.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife is poised to become the new number one movie at the box office this weekend. The continuation of the franchise captures the spirit of the original while introducing the franchise to a new and younger generation. Director Jason Reitman was tasked with making his father Ivan Reitman’s franchise his own, paying homage while moving it forward with his own style and sensibilities. But what would have Ghostbusters 3 been in Ivan Reitman’s version? Apparently, the elder Reitman planned to kill Bill Murray at the beginning of Ghostbusters 3, and here’s how it would have happened. 

Ivan Reitman has revealed his plans for Bill Murray in his third Ghostbusters film, and it sounds interesting-- despite the iconic actor dying in the first sequence of the movie. The movie was never made, and the 2016 reboot came out and didn’t hit the mark, and now a true continuation of Reitman's original two films is here in Afterlife. The duo recently appeared on CinemaBlend's ReelBlend Podcast, with Ivan speaking about the third film in the franchise that didn’t get made, and how Bill Murray would die in the movie, saying:

The idea actually sounds like it would have worked, especially if the movie was made in the same vein as the first two Ghostbusters. Bill Murray getting hit by a bus and returning as a ghost would probably be comedic gold, and an excellent twist to the dynamic of the group. It’s a bold choice and would have taken audiences by surprise, but the movie never materialized.

Reitman’s third Ghostbusters movie was never never filmed due to the passing of Harold Ramis, who played Egon. And the director is clear that they all wanted to tell a story to make a proper follow-up to the original two movies. After the sequel fell through, Reitman says he decided never to return to the franchise, but that didn’t stop the 2016 reboot from being made. And now his own son taking over the reins and making something to bridge the old generation and the new. 

Ghostbusters: Afterlife director Jason Reitman has talked about working with his father on the film and the most challenging part of their working relationship. Their collective stubbornness seems to have worked out as Afterlife looks like it’s a fun movie that succeeds in what it sets out to do. The original films are heavily referenced in the new film, and if you are interested in more details from the originals, here are some behind-the-scenes facts about them. 

It sounds like Ghostbusters 4 is going to happen, and it is looking like it will be a triumphant return to the franchise. We cant wait to see where the new generation goes and how the originals will still impact the future of the moves. 

There is no Dana. Only Zuul. And many, many years ago, there was no Dana, only Sigourney Weaver. In 1983, the Alien star came in to meet with director Ivan Reitman and audition for a part in a comedy he was putting together called Ghostbusters. Dana would go on to become a love interest for Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), and an integral part of the franchise. But when Weaver sat down with Reitman, she shared a valuable idea that she had for her character, and it went a long way towards helping him crack the ending of the classic comedy. 

Ivan Reitman and his son, fellow director Jason Reitman, came on the ReelBlend podcast this week to discuss Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the direct sequel to Ghostbusters I and II that has been decades in the making. The new story introduces new characters, which we break down over the course of the interview, but at one point, Jason turned and asked his father what made Sigourney Weaver so effective at reacting to sci-fi weirdness. In explaining her talents, Ivan Reitman told this amazing story about her audition, saying:

I can hear Peter Venkman saying to Ray at the moment that Dana converts, “Ok. So. She’s a dog.” And that idea ended up being Sigourney Weaver’s, born from her audition and carried through the franchise, all the way to Ghostbusters: Afterlife. It’s not a spoiler to say that we do see the Hounds of Hell in the new movie. They are in the trailer, chasing after Paul Rudd. What’s hilarious, though, is that Weaver didn’t know until just recently how inspirational her contributions were to his screenwriting process. He went on to tell the ReelBlend podcast:

Kudos to Sigourney Weaver for making this bold suggestion, and to Ivan Reitman for listening when it mattered. The hounds made up a big part of Ghostbusters, and are a fun part of the legacy sequel, Ghostbusters: Afterlife. See the new movie now, as it just arrived in theaters and is off to a fast start.

Jason and Ivan Reitman join ReelBlend for the release of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, starring Paul Rudd, Mckenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard and Carrie Coon. Ivan shares some wonderful stories from behind the scenes of the original 1985 Ghostbusters, his reaction to Jason’s story for Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and how he had to cut a scene from the original featuring his own family. Jason discusses working with his team to create an authentic Ghostbusters feel to the film, how they captured the magic of the original using a mix of modern effects and tricks used even in 1985 and more. 

Stick around to hear our reviews of the film, as well as our reactions to Spider-Man: Far From Home’s latest trailer. 

Timestamps (approx. only)

00:05:17 - Weekly Poll
00:15:40 - Jason & Ivan Reitman Interview
00:50:15 - Spider-Man: No Way Home Trailer Reaction
00:59:44 - C’mon C’mon Review
01:02:56 - Tick Tick…Boom! Review
01:09:28 - King Richard Review
01:16:41 - Ghostbusters: Afterlife Review
01:27:14 - Ghostbusters: Afterlife Spoilers
01:38:44 - Our Favorite Ivan Reitman Movies
01:57:33 - Outro

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Another November weekend is ahead, which means there’s some big box office potential headed our way. Will the audience call on the Ghostbusters with the release of the latest installment, Ghostbusters: Afterlife? Jason Reitman, the son of original Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman, has helmed the sequel that will also see Bill Murray, Dan Akyroyd and Ernie Hudson back in their jumpsuits, along with “Sexiest Man Alive” Paul Rudd and Stranger Things’ star Finn Wolfhard starring. Let’s take a look at the projections. 

Ahead of the movie’s opening weekend, it’s being projected by Sony that Ghostbusters: Afterlife will make $27-$28 million during its domestic debut, and $45 million worldwide. The Deadline report isn’t mind-blowing, but considering the movie’s reported $75 million budget, Afterlife looks like it could be a relative success for the studio. 

By comparison, 2016’s Ghostbusters, which starred Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon, made $46 million domestically in its first weekend. However, that was against a $144 million production cost. In total, the all-female Paul Feig film made $229 million worldwide, which was almost $60 million shy of making double its cost, making for an underwhelming box office performance. When it comes to Afterlife, hitting over $225 million worldwide in theaters before it exits theaters sometime during the holiday season will be enough to deem the film a worthy successor. 

Ghostbusters: Afterlife is expected to be this week’s No. 1 movie, knocking off Eternals from its No. 1 spot during its third week at the box office, which is expected to take $13.4 million (a 50% decline from the week before). Venus and Serena Williams' tennis biopic starring Will Smith, King Richard, is expected to open around $10 million, as it also debuts on HBO Max on the same day. 

Afterlife has received mixed reviews from critics ahead of its theatrical release. CinemaBlend’s own Sean O’Connell gave the movie three out of five stars in our Ghostbusters: Afterlife review, calling it a “sometimes unbalanced continuation of a beloved franchise” that has its positives, but enough shortcomings as well. The movie takes the series out of New York City and to a small town in Oklahoma where the grandchildren of the late Harold Ramis’ Egon Spengler move to and begin to uncover supernatural occurrences. 

The new Ghostbusters movie places the focus on a new generation of Ghostbusters, as McKenna Grace’s Phoebe Spengler and Finn Wolfhard’s Trevor Spengler continue the Ghostbusters legacy. Also among the cast is Carrie Coon as their mother Callie Spengler, Sigourney Weaver as Dana Barrett, Annie Potts as Janine Melnitz and Josh Gad as Muncher. Ghostbusters: Afterlife will first debut during Thursday night screenings – we’ll keep you posted as the weekend progresses on how the sequel does commercially. 

Ghostbusters: Afterlife stars Paul Rudd, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Carrie Coon, Logan Kim, Celeste O’Connor, producer Ivan Reitman and director Jason Reitman discuss their new Ghostbusters sequel in this interview with CinemaBlend's Sean O'Connell.

Video Chapters

• 0:00 - What screening Ghostbusters: Afterlife at Comic-Con meant to Jason and Ivan Reitman 
• 00:30 - McKenna Grace on channeling Harold Ramis’ Egon for her character 
• 01:40 - Carrie Coon on the family dynamic of Ghostbusters: Afterlife
• 03:10 - How Jason Reitman included references to the 1984 Ghostbusters
• 04:35 - Logan Kim was terrified the first time he saw the original Ghostbusters
• 05:20 - Ivan Reitman reveals whether Ghostbusters is comedy or horror 
• 06:15 - Finn Wolfhard on balancing nostalgia with something new in Stranger Things and Ghostbusters: Afterlife
• 07:30 - Logan Kim’s response to being an action figure 
• 07:50 - The Jason Reitman film that Ivan Reitman would direct a sequel to 
• 08:15 - What it was like for the cast having both Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman on set 
• 09:12 - Paul Rudd on balancing supernatural exposition with laughs 
• 10:32 - Did Paul Rudd ever try on one of the proton packs?

With the upcoming arrival of Ghostbusters: Afterlife getting people talking about the beloved Ghostbusters movies, there has never been a better time than now to take a trip down memory lane and see how director Ivan Reitman and his cast of comedy heavyweights turned an idea into one of the most iconic cinematic experiences of the 20th Century. 

Below is a collection of behind-the-scenes facts from the making of Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II that break down everything from the Dan Aykroyd’s original idea to how the Statue of Liberty was brought to life to vanquish Vigo the Carpathian, and just about everything in between. 

Dan Aykroyd’s Original Idea For Ghostbusters Was Set In The Future And Was To Include John Belushi

The first Ghostbusters movie would open in theaters in June 1984, but Dan Aykroyd first started working on a much different version years earlier. In the commentary track that accompanied the film’s initial DVD release, director Ivan Reitman revealed that in this initial 40-page treatment, there were many more Ghostbusters, a futuristic setting, and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man first appeared much earlier on than in the finished product. Aykroyd also wrote one of the characters for his Blues Brothers and Saturday Night Live costar, but the comedian’s 1982 death forced him to change the characters.

Ghostbusters Was Pitched, Written, Produced, And Released All In 12 Months

One of the most impressive aspects of Ghostbusters is the fact that the entire process, from being greenlit to releasing the film, took only 12 months. In the Ghostbusters commentary track, Ivan Reitman and co-writer/co-star Harold Ramis detailed the meeting they had with Columbia Pictures executives in the summer of 1983, and how they were given a release date of June 8, 1984 before they even had a script, special effects team, or really anything else besides an idea of what they wanted to do with Dan Aykroyd’s 40-page treatment. 

Not long after, the braintrust behind the movie descended upon Martha’s Vineyard and spent the summer writing the script and ironing out all the details. A few months later they were filming at some of the most iconic New York City landmarks and Hollywood sound-stages.

The Louis Tully Character Was Originally Written For John Candy But The Comedy Legend Didn’t Understand The Role

Ghostbusters will forever go down as one of the best Rick Moranis movies, but his scene-stealing performance as the Louis Tully almost went to a completely different actor. In the commentary track, Ivan Reitman revealed that the character was initially written for the late John Candy, because he had worked with so many of the movie’s stars and producers on Stripes a couple of years earlier. 

Candy, however, didn’t really understand the character and went back and forth with everyone on things like Louis’ accent (Candy wanted the character to be German). The Uncle Buck star eventually passed on the opportunity, which opened the door for Moranis, who Reitman and Harold Ramis said ended up improvising a lot of his scenes and further fleshed out the character.

Director Ivan Reitman Voiced Slimer And The Possessed Dana In Ghostbusters

In addition to directing, producing, and helping formulate the story in Ghostbusters, Ivan Reitman also provided voices for several characters throughout the movie. In the commentary, Reitman revealed that his voice was used to bring Slimer to life and that he voiced Dana (Sigourney Weaver) when she becomes possessed by Zuul and begins spinning above her bed after Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) comes to her apartment.

Most Of The Opening Minutes Of Ghostbusters’ New York City Shots Were Filmed In A Single Day

With an extremely tight schedule, Ivan Reitman and the stars of Ghostbusters had to make the most of their time when it came to getting exterior shots of New York City, as well as the opening scene in the New York Public Library. 

In the commentary track, Reitman and Harold Ramis explained that not only were most of the early shots of Egon Spengler (Ramis), Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), and Peter Venkman walking through the streets of the Big Apple filmed over the course of a single day, they were able to capture all the scenes in the library’s reading room before 10 a.m., when they were required to leave. However, this doesn’t include the first ghost confrontation in the library’s basement, as that was filmed at the Los Angeles Public Library.

Bill Murray Felt Like He Was Tricked Into Making Ghostbusters II

Unlike its predecessor, which is universally loved, 1989’s Ghostbusters II isn’t everyone’s favorite entry in the franchise and has its fair share of issues. Those problems were even picked up by the sequel’s cast, including Bill Murray, who revealed in an April 2021 chat with Collider that he felt tricked when he realized that the movie that was pitched to him was not the one that was being filmed, stating:

Bill Murray never revealed the changes that were made to Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd’s script between the pitch meeting and start of production, but there are more than a few reasons why the comedy legend would feel this way more than 30 years later.

Slimer Became A Bigger Part Of Ghostbusters II Because Of The Popularity Of The Real Ghostbusters Animated Series

Slimer, the first spirit the Ghostbusters catch, is only in one scene in the first movie. However, when Ghostbusters II was released five years later, a bigger and much more detailed version of the character was given more time to slime, and even had a short subplot with Louis Tully. 

During a a 2014 interview with Beyond the Marquee, producer Joe Medjuck admitted that Slimer was a bigger deal in the second movie because of the popularity of The Real Ghostbusters animated series which became a massive hit as a Saturday morning cartoon. And, although there has been speculation regarding other additions to the movie based on the cartoon, Medjuck said there was no correlation, specifically the change in appearance for Janine Melnitz (Annie Potts).

The Decision To Have The Characters No Longer Smoke In Ghostbusters II Was Influenced By A Societal Shift

Another thing that changed a lot between the first two Ghostbusters movies was the characters’ smoking habits. In the first movie, it’s rare to find a scene where at least one character isn't standing idly by while smoking a cigarette. But, that was far from the case by the time the sequel rolled around five years later, which producer Joe Medjuck explained was a societal shift, when speaking with Beyond the Marquee in 2014:

As the dangers of smoking have become more known in the past several decades, studios like Disney have banned smoking in movies targeted at kids, with streaming services like Netflix changing the way they depict smoking in their productions as well.

An Actor Was Fully Encased In A Flexible Foam Suit To Bring The Statue Of Liberty To Life In Ghostbusters II

Just like with the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man in Ghostbusters, the 1989 sequel featured a larger-than-life creature in the climatic battle, only this time, the Statue of Liberty was with the good guys and not trying to bring death and destruction to the Big Apple. To pull off this iconic sequence, the special effects team used various small-scale models, massive recreations, and even an actor under a foam suit to pull off the shots of the iconic structure walking down the pedestrian-filled streets. 

In the November 1989 issue of Cinefex, it was revealed that when it was time to film the walking scenes, actor Jim Fye was first put in a foam toga, foam arms, and boots sculpted to look like sandals. Then a neck piece was glued to the toga before a helmet and face mask were put in place, encasing the actor in a suit of foam. On top of that, wires were added to make the torch light up and miniature versions of the Ghostbusters were glued inside the helmet.

Vigo The Carpathian Actor Wilhelm Von Homburg Stormed Out Of A Premiere After Learning Max Von Sydow Dubbed His Lines

Vigo the Carpathian, the tyrannical 16th-Century leader whose portrait comes to life and starts all sorts of trouble in Ghostbusters II was played by the German boxer/wrestler/actor Wilhelm von Homburg. However, between the completion of principal photography and the film’s June 1989 release, Ivan Reitman and the powers that be on the production team elected to hire the late Max von Sydow to dub the lines for one reason or another. No one told von Homburg before he attended a screening where he found out firsthand that he (or his voice anyway) had been replaced, before he stormed out of a theater, according to Deadspin.

After reading all of these behind-the-scenes facts, no one will hold anything against you if you want to go back and watch Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II again. But, if you want to check out new films coming to theaters and streaming services in the final weeks of the year, check out CinemaBlend’s updated schedule of 2021 movie premiere dates.

At the age of 74, Arnold Schwarzenegger is still getting things done, as he’s working hard in the gym and prepping for upcoming projects. The film that currently has his attention is the long-awaited sequel to his 1988 buddy comedy, Twins. Triplets reunites him with co-star Danny DeVito, and it would seem the two are having plenty of fun together. And with two big personalities working together, there are bound to be off-camera hijinks. This was proven to be true when Schwarzenegger revealed that he tried to pull a prank on DeVito. And the joke was actually a callback to one that occurred while they were making the original movie. 

Filming for the upcoming sequel doesn’t formally kick off until early 2022, but the stars are already getting together. The Terminator actor recently revealed in his newsletter that Triplets director Ivan Reitman (who directed the first film) brought the two in ahead of the shoot. It was during this meeting that he tried to get one over on his co-star with a gag involving a cigar. The actor said about his attempted prank:

It looks like Danny DeVito isn’t one to get fooled so easily. Still, you have to give Arnold Schwarzenegger some props for trying. Funny enough, I would honestly love to see the video of DeVito trying out the cigar for himself. But until the 76-year-old star does decide to drop it, you can enjoy the video of Schwarzenegger’s gag down below:

It would seem that the Batman Returns alum certainly knows how to have a good time with his colleagues. While he was working with Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart on Jumanji: The Next Level, the former posted a pic of the trio doing a script read. Based on his jovial presence during interviews, it’s no surprise that his co-stars love being around him. One would imagine that after 14 season’s on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, he’s built great chemistry with his fellow cast members. 

Twins still stands as one of the star’s most memorable cinematic turns. The movie centers on twins, the result of an unusual experiment, who were separated at birth. The pair eventually meet up as adults, though they turn out to be very different people. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Julius is an illegent and physically imposing young man, while Danny DeVito’s Vincent is a short, street-wise man with a criminal history. 

There aren’t too many concrete plot details on Triplets just yet, but it has been revealed that the two lead characters will find their other twin. And as mentioned in the newsletter, that character will be played by Coming 2 America’s Tracy Morgan. Having him on set with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito should make for a fun filmmaking experience and, with his comedic sensibilities, I wouldn’t be surprised if he joins his colleagues in employing pranks. 

Twins is currently available to stream on Hulu.

If you want to bring the Ghostbusters back, who are you gonna call? In the case of the upcoming Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the franchise has been passed down from father to son. Ivan Reitman memorably brought audiences two classics with 1984’s Ghostbusters and 1989’s Ghostbusters II and, soon, Jason Reitman will continue the saga with a movie all about the continued lineage of the storyline. However, things weren't always easy between father and son, as they worked on the movie.

Over almost two decades, Jason Reitman has become a great director in his own right, making films including Thank You For Smoking, Juno, Up in the Air and most recently 2018’s The Front Runner. When speaking to Empire, Reitman shared his experience taking on his father’s famed franchise, saying this: 

Additionally, Jason Reitman said that making the movie was like “navigating the shadow” of his parents, which he feels can be a pretty universal experience between parents and kids even if yours didn’t helm one of the most iconic ‘80s movies. As he shared to the magazine: 

Ghostbusters: Afterlife will ignore the 2016 Paul Feig reboot of the franchise and pick up the story with the grandchildren of Egon, who was played by the late Harold Ramis in the original films. Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard and Malignant’s Mckenna Grace will be his grandchildren, and Carrie Coon will be their single mother and Egon’s daughter. 

After being evicted from their home, the Spengler family will move to a farmhouse in Summerville, Oklahoma left for them by the former Ghostbuster. When the kids notice a series unexplained earthquakes, they start to delve into the Ghostbusters’ history, with the help of their teacher, Paul Rudd’s Mr. Grooberson. 

And as we know, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts are in fact part of the film… somehow. It’s pretty cool that this particular story is going to be the next chapter for the Ghostbusters franchise, and it truly seems to have been a journey passed down from father to son. Ivan Reitman serves as a producer on the film, and one would assume that the slight differences in his and his son's creative sensibilities would cause them to occasionally bump heads while making Afterlife. 

Following a number of delays brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is finally set to be released in theaters on November 19. The movie found its first audience over the summer at CinemaCon, where CinemaBlend’s own Sean O’Connell called it a “solid continuation” to the original films. Check out the full lineup of 2021 movie releases here on CinemaBlend.  

It can’t be easy following in the footsteps of a famous director father, which is precisely what Jason Reitman did when he kicked off his directorial career with Thank You For Smoking many years ago. This year, he’ll follow even further in his famous dad’s footsteps by bringing Ghostbusters: Afterlife to the big screen, several decades after the original Ghostbusters premiered back in 1984. It’s a franchise that has been a part of the younger Reitman’s life for almost as long as he can remember. Now, he’s explaining why he finally decided to take on a film in the franchise on his own.

Ahead of the first screening of Ghostbusters: Afterlife at CinemaCon 2021, both the elder and young Reitman took to the stage to talk about the moving coming together and how much it meant for both of them. In particular though, for Jason Reitman, the new movie is going to be a culmination of years of getting asked about his father’s famous property and why he had never taken on the mantle himself. He told audiences, including CinemaBlend:

Those all seem like good reasons to move forward with a new movie in the Ghostbusters franchise, and those who saw the movie during its Las Vegas screening mentioned the movie is “loyal” to the original and is very much in keeping with what Ivan Reitman, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and the rest of the gang tried to do in the original run. Insofar as that “make a movie for my daughter comment,” Mckenna Grace in particular has been noted as doing great work in Afterlife. (Can confirm).

The story and the path the film ultimately took stems from the fact that director Jason Reitman doesn’t honestly feel as if it is his own movie but a movie that is on a path that other sets out on first. He also explained he wanted to create something for the whole family to enjoy.

We already know the movie will feature nods to the original, having seen the first footage from the film. This time around, the adventure brings in some new cast members in Paul Rudd, Mckenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Carrie Coon and more surprises. The first looks at the movie have also included Easter eggs, returning characters and more.

This week it was confirmed the film, like many before it over the last couple of years, has been pushed back. There’s a silver lining, though. Sony only pushed it back a week, so we’re still getting it in time for the holiday season this year. To see more upcoming movie release dates, take a look at our full schedule.

Massive cultural and box office hits like the Ghostbusters franchise are always reflected upon as the successes they eventually became. But sometimes, there’s an interesting story that tells a very different tale-- and it usually comes from the early days before the public gets their hands on the finished product. Director Ivan Reitman’s 1984 science fiction-comedy spectacle is the epitome of such a film, and he reminded the world of that fact with his own story of the very first preview screening for Ghostbusters. And believe it or not, there was a now iconic character that even Reitman wasn’t sure would work.

Reflecting on the legacy of the franchise, while introducing the surprise screening of Ghostbusters: Afterlife at CinemaCon 2021, Ivan Reitman let the crowd in on a piece of history seldom heard. And as we here at CinemaBlend currently have people attending the event in person, we were on hand to hear this historical yarn spun as it played out. The elder Reitman’s memory of that first Ghostbusters screening was told, as follows:

Just try to imagine those classic scenes from Ghostbusters without special effects. It’s hard to believe that they’d work, because what we know as Ivan Reitman’s pride and joy dazzled the world with fantastic concepts and top notch creature work. But digging deeper, the talents of Sigourney Weaver, as well as the entire lineup of Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson, among others, were at the film’s disposal. With a cast like that, you might have been able to release the film as is, and Ghostbusters would have still been a hit. So it’s only a stronger win when you take a look back at what the reaction of the finished film turned out to be.

In the history books, Ghostbusters is known, partially, as the top film in 1984. Besting everything from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom to Gremlins, it became a franchise that inspired everything from cereals and toys to animated series, and eventually, sequels and spin-offs. But the sum total that is the film the world got to see was a product of hard work, and fast thinking.

Even the title of the film was subject to change at one point, thanks to the 1975 sitcom The Ghost Busters presenting a copyright challenge. But sure enough, the Ghostbusters title was landed, and the effects were perfected; though that first preview audience wouldn’t see that for themselves for some time. Which would seem to justify Ivan Reitman’s fears that the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man wouldn’t work, and then some.

One of the key icons of Ghostbusters lore, who was popular enough to get a huge callback in Ghostbusters: Afterlife, this towering treat of terror wowed everyone from the moment he appeared on screen. And apparently, as Ivan Reitman recalls from that fateful first screening, even the lo-tech version of Stay Puft had the audience absolutely sold. Which, after hearing what the stand in version was made out of, could totally be chalked up to the miracle that is this concept:

Selling Ghostbusters without the amazing effects that helped land it as an all time classic is just another testament to how magical the movie actually is. And that’s not the only instance in franchise history that’s seen the series banking on the charm of folks like Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray to shop the film around to the world. In fact, the past incarnation of what we now know as CinemaCon had a part to play in all of this.

Up until 2010, the event that’s now named CinemaCon used to be called ShoWest. And back in 1984, there were some clips of Ghostbusters shown to attendees; though nothing on par with showing an entire film, like this year’s show. A huge part of that presentation that still survives on the internet is the video included below, which sees Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray doing what they do best: riffing on a concept, and milking it for what it’s worth. If you want to know how Ghostbusters was sold at ShoWest in 1984, here’s part of what you would have seen:

Throughout the Ghostbusters legacy, Ivan Reitman, and now his son Jason, have built a blockbuster franchise on one simple principle: belief. Just as the Ghostbusters themselves threw open their doors, claiming “We’re ready to believe you,” the world itself was ready to believe in Ghostbusters. And now, it looks like everyone’s set to keep the faith with Ghostbusters: Afterlife. After the impressive CinemaCon screening that took place last night, audiences will have to sadly wait until November 11th to get their shot at taking that leap of faith. But that doesn’t mean 2021 isn’t stocked with other thrills at a theater near you! Head over to the 2021 release schedule, and hunt down the next haunting adventure you could take in at the movies.

Hollywood is loaded with iconic directors who have given audiences some of the best entertainment for decades. For that reason, they're often given more work, which always opens them up to giving audiences more to love... or something they may really, really hate. Most of these icons hit far more often than they miss, though even the greatest have that movie where they struck out.

To be completely upfront, there will be some hot takes on this list. Every item on this list is the lowest-rated movie from the mentioned iconic director on Rotten Tomatoes, so blame the critics of the time, not me. With that out of the way, let's run down the list of terrible movies from iconic directors that may or may not deserve a spotlight.

Guillermo Del Toro - Blade 2

Ironically, what many would consider the best Blade movie is also the worst movie made by Guillermo del Toro. Not that Del Toro is ever really given a ton of blame for that; his job was to direct, and he did his best with the script he was given. Unfortunately, even the most foreboding and dark areas fall flat when the movie uses fight scenes with dialogue only to move Blade along to the next fight scene. Thankfully, del Toro would win critics over in the superhero genre with his two Hellboy movies down the road.

David Lynch - Dune

David Lynch had a tremendous task cut out for him in Dune, and by most metrics to this day, he failed. The man who perfectly captured the life of The Elephant Man somehow couldn't find a proper way to adapt Frank Herbert's classic in a way that could be easily understood by its audience. The movie is widely considered a miss for Lynch, and while he's come close with a couple of features, it's the only movie of his considered "rotten" by critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

George Lucas- Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

George Lucas' track record is somewhat skewed considering 2/3rds of his directing work is for Star Wars projects, but he did create the franchise after all. Unfortunately, he also gifted the world the most critically panned entry in the franchise, The Phantom Menace. I thought it was fine in my younger years, but a recent re-watch made me question why plans for the trilogy weren't heavily reconsidered after that entry alone. Was the world just so desperate for more Star Wars that they looked past it? Obviously, there were people who knew right out the gate, as many critics were not shy to say this wasn't nearly on the same level as A New Hope.

Martin Scorsese- Boxcar Bertha

When it comes to violent movies that revolve around a world of crime, typically Martin Scorsese is the guy to call. That said, that wasn't known back when he made Boxcar Bertha, which was only his second directorial feature at the time. Hilariously enough, most of the complaints were due to the violence, which was often a criticism Scorsese has gotten for successive films that are now considered masterpieces. Unfortunately, Boxcar Bertha has not been nearly as acclaimed as the rest.

Tim Burton- Dark Shadows

Tim Burton has a knack for putting his own spin on classic stories, even with works that may not initially seem like they could work with his dark charm. Weirdly enough, Dark Shadows seemed like a perfect and relatively sensible fit for Burton, and he had Johnny Depp on board. It should've been a hit, but critics found the premise played out. The jokes fell flat and Burton was criticized for struggling to find a tone throughout the movie. Sometimes the "sure things" in Hollywood just don't work out in execution, and this movie is proof positive of that.

Peter Jackson - The Lovely Bones

Peter Jackson is known for a lot of things, but paranormal thrillers aren't really his bag. Sure, Frodo did turn invisible a handful of times in The Lord Of The Rings, but even in the context of all he'd done before this movie, The Lovely Bones was a pretty out-there film for Jackson. Of course, that was part of the point, as Jackson went on the record saying he enjoyed doing something that wasn't a large-scale epic for once. Three years later he was doing The Hobbit, though it's worth noting he wasn't the first choice.

Steven Spielberg - Hook

Hook is a beloved classic by many, but that was not how it was received by critics. This movie got a thorough thrashing for being an ill-begotten story of Peter Pan and was hated by critics so much that its aggregate Rotten Tomatoes score is a measly 28%. The movie was called unimaginative, the effects were not well integrated, and the overall story was garbled down by too many Hollywood ideals. Perhaps the biggest criticism was that it had such a great premise, but did so little to further adapt or bring in elements from the original story.

Ridley Scott - A Good Year

Similar to what I touched on earlier with Peter Jackson, there are things iconic directors are known for, and things they aren't. When you think of Ridley Scott, I highly doubt you think of romantic comedies. Scott has a wide range of movies he can make a hit, and with Russell Crowe as the lead in A Good Year, it stood to reason he could do it again. This time it just didn't happen, as the end result was seen as a soulless romantic comedy that went on a little too long. It's not necessarily bad, but certainly not one anyone needs to make time for.

David Fincher - Alien 3

The final entry is the most perhaps fitting, because not even David Fincher will defend Alien 3. The third installment in the Alien franchise already had a lot to live up to with the first two movies, which was directed by two other directing icons, Ridley Scott and James Cameron. Unfortunately, Fincher's film wasn't considered nearly as exciting or bold as the prior two films, though it has gathered its share of fans over the years. Still, when even Fincher himself disowns it, it's hard not to side with the crowd who thinks this sequel just wasn't up to par.

Spike Lee - She Hate Me

She Hate Me has all the ingredients for a great film. It's a challenging script from Spike Lee and Michael Genet, it has a dynamite cast that includes Anthony Mackie, in one of his earliest roles, and Kerry Washington in the lead roles, and, of course, is directed by Lee, one of the most acclaimed directors of the last 30+ years. The movie misses though, weighted down by the heavy message it tries to make while also trying to be a comedy. 

Barry Levinson - Sphere

After the huge success of Jurassic Park in 1993, Hollywood was clamoring to adapt other Michael Crichton novels. The mid and late '90s were chock full of adaptions like The 13th Warrior, Congo, Rising Sun, and Disclosure. Right in that mix was Barry Levinson's adaptation of Sphere and while the book was fantastic, the movie just falls flat, perhaps because people staring at mysterious orb for most of a movie isn't all that exciting. 

Sam Raimi - For Love Of The Game

Director Sam Raimi has a remarkable hit record, with only a couple movies rating below 50% on Rotten Tomatoes, the lowest being the Kevin Costner baseball movie For Love Of The Game. If you love Costner and baseball, it's actually a decent movie, but it isn't Raimi's best, that's for sure. 

Francis Ford Coppola - Jack

Francis Ford Coppola had a run in the 1970s that is almost unprecedented in Hollywood with The Godfather movies, The Conversation, and Apocalypse Now. He found success in the 1980s too, with movies like The Outsiders and Tucker: A Man and His Dream. Then there is 1996's Jack. All you can ask is, "What were Coppola and Robin Williams thinking?"

Penny Marshall - Renaissance Man

The late Penny Marshall is a Hollywood icon for many reasons. Renaissance Man is not one of them. If you've never seen it (which wouldn't be surprising) think of it like Dead Poet's Society crossed with Pauly Shore's In The Army Now, and just as unfunny as the latter. Danny DeVito plays a guy who loves quoting Shakespeare and finds himself teaching army recruits how to read. That's all you need to know, really, there is no reason to ever watch it. 

Oliver Stone - Alexander

Oliver Stone knows how to tell a war story. His Vietnam films Platoon and Born on the Fourth of July rank among the best war movies of all time. His telling of the ancient battle of Alexander the Great in Alexander is as good. The original release was a hot mess and while he has improved it with a couple of subsequent director's cuts, it still doesn't hold a candle to his other films. 

Ivan Reitman - Father's Day

The late Ivan Reitman has always been hit-or-miss with critics. Even some of his most popular movies, like Twins, were poorly reviewed. His worst movie though, based on both audience and critics' scores. is Father's Day starring Billy Crystal and Robin Williams as two men trying to find their former lovers' son to determine which man is the father. It's... not funny, nor is it heartfelt. It's just a miss. 

Amy Heckerling - Night At The Roxbury

Clueless and Fast Times At Ridgemont High are two of the most beloved teen comedies of all time, both define two generations. For director Amy Heckerling they are high water marks in her career. On the other side of those is Night At The Roxbury. Though it’s her lowest-ranked movie on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s not the worst movie based on SNL characters, so it could be worse. 

Kathryn Bigelow - The Weight of Water

Oscar-winner Katheryn Bigelow is pretty picky about the movies she chooses to direct, and most of the time, she nails it, like The Hurt Locker, Point Break, and Zero Dark Thirty. Occasionally she misses, like The Weight Of Water. Though it’s nowhere near the worst movie on this list, it’s still the worst of her movies according to the critics on Rotten Tomatoes. 

The Coen Brothers - The Ladykillers

When your worst-reviewed movie on Rotten Tomatoes is still 54%, you’re doing pretty well. For the Coen Brothers, The Ladykillers is a very rare example of a miss, as they have 13 movies north of 80%. I’m a fan of The Ladykillers and I think it’s vastly underrated, but sticking with the rules, it’s the one of this list. I’d have Hail! Caesar at the bottom, however. 

Danny Boyle - The Beach

Before Alex Garland became an acclaimed director of movies like 2024’s Civil War, he was a novelist. He wrote The Beach in the ‘90s and captivated a generation of would-be adventure travelers. Combine that with the talents of the great director Danny Boyle and star Leonardo DiCaprio and you’d think there was no way the movie would be bad. The Beach isn’t terrible, but it’s not Boyle’s best work by far. It just misses the sense of adventure the novel has. 

Alfonso Cuarón - Great Expectations

Alfonso Cuarón takes his time when making a movie, and while Great Expectations is no exception, it falls short of the lofty expectations we have of the director. Sure, it’s based on a classic novel (though a modern retelling of the Dickens book) and it has a great cast, but it just misses. It’s certainly not up to his usual standards. 

Alex & Emma - Rob Reiner

Some of the best rom-coms of all time have been directed by Rob Reiner. Alex & Emma, starring Luke Wilson and Kate Hudson is not one of them. It’s a rare miss from the This is Spinal Tap director, with a brutal 11% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. 

M. Night Shyamalan - The Last Airbender

M. Night Shyamalan has never really been a critical darling, but his fans always stick up for him, with one exception: The Last Airbender. The movie, based on the Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise, is despised by critics and fans alike, especially fans of the source material. 

Eagle Vs. Shark - Taika Waititi

As debut movies go, Taika Waititi’s Eagle Vs. Shark isn’t that bad. The director’s now-legendary humor is very evident, but it’s clearly a low-budget first outing for Waititi. It’s excusable, given what would come later. What is less excusable is the miss he had with Thor: Love & Thunder, but it’s still better ranked than this one, for some reason. If given the choice between the two, pick Eagle Vs. Shark.

James Cameron - Piranha II: The Spawning

Okay, so this one really isn’t fair. The worst movie that the great James Cameron directed is a B-movie called Piranha II: The Spawning. From the title alone, you know it’s going to be bad. There isn’t much redeemable about it, except that it got Cameron’s foot in the door in Hollywood and his next movie, The Terminator has a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, so you can ignore the 5% this one got. 

Ron Howard - Inferno

Did you know that Ron Howard and Tom Hanks teamed up for three movies based on the books of Dan Brown? You probably remember The Da Vinci Code and you might have even seen Angels & Demons but there is a third, terrible installment in the franchise called Inferno. CinemaBlend called Howard’s direction “slow, ponderous and dull,” which is not what you explicit from the Hollywood legend. 

Robert Altman - Beyond Therapy

Throughout his career, director Robert Altman had some serious highs, like The Player and MASH, but he also had some pretty low lows, and none were lower than Beyond Therapy in 1987. It came at a low point overall in the legendary director’s career, a time that also included similarly poorly reviewed movies like Popeye and O.C. and Stiggs.

Ivan Reitman - Beverly Hills Cop III

This one is a little unfair, because Ivan Reitman and Eddie Murphy have both made worse movies, but it likely suffers from coming on the heals of two previous Beverly Hills Cop movies that are, without a doubt, superior to this sequel. 

Elia Kazan - The Arrangement

There is no doubt of Elia Kazan’s place in Hollywood history. Considered one of the most influential directors of all time, fans of his can also boast that his movies launched the careers of actors like Marlon Brando and James Dean. However, not every movie he made was a classic and while The Arrangement has been somewhat re-evaluated in recent years, it still holds a dismal 15% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Brian De Palma - The Bonfire Of The Vanities

Tom Wolfe has only had a couple of books adapted into movies. The first, The Right Stuff is one of the best movies about The Cold War. The second, The Bonfire of the Vanities, directed by Brian De Palma, is… not very good. In fact, it’s pretty brutal. It tries hard to hit all the cultural critiques that Wolfe laid out in his novel, but it just doesn’t get the point across nearly as well. It’s a clunky mess. 

Richard Linklater - Bad News Bears

When he sticks with his own original stories and writes his own screenplays, Richard Linklater is a master. Movies like Dazed and Confused, Before Sunrise, and Boyhood are iconic. The Bad News Bears is also iconic, just not the remake Linklater directed in 2005. The original is far, far better. 

Gus Van Sant - Even Cowgirls Get The Blues

For Gen X, the combination of Gus Van Sant and novelist Tom Robbins was an enticing prospect. Sadly, the movie adaptation of Robbins’ classic Even Cowgirls Get The Blues is simply a disappointment, a very rare miss for Van Sant, especially at that point in his career coming off the back-to-back masterpieces Drugstore Cowboy and My Own Private Idaho. 

Today, we know Ghostbusters was a big deal. From the hilarious comedy to the earworm theme song, it became a huge culture phenomenon. You’re probably already singing the theme song right now. But not all the actors were convinced at the time that it would be so successful, including Bill Murray.

Recently, Josh Gad invited many of the original cast from Ghostbusters to come on his YouTube channel’s segment Reunited Apart, including director Ivan Reitman and Ghostbusters: Afterlife director Jason Reitman. While discussing Ghostbusters, Bill Murray shared when he first knew Ghostbusters was going to be a big deal. Here’s what he said:

Ghostbusters became such a hit that it spawned a sequel, a cartoon, and several video games. Plus, it was recently remade in 2016 by director Paul Feig which included an all-female starring cast to play the Ghostbusters.

Bill Murray has appeared in every Ghostbusters movie, including a brief blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo in the 2016 remake, but he plays a totally different character in that movie. His character was Martin Heiss, a skeptic and debunker that calls the Ghostbusters out.

Now, Ghostbusters is getting another movie in Ghostbusters: Afterlife, directed by Ivan Reitman’s son, Jason Reitman. Based on the trailer, it looks like Ghostbusters: Afterlife will be heavily connected to the past movies, with new, younger characters carrying the torch.

However, that’s not to say it won’t have the old characters making appearances. Bill Murray has signed on to Ghostbusters: Afterlife, along with Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, and many others. Of the old cast, the only name that won’t be returning is Rick Moranis who played Louis Tully. Still, it sounds like this time around, Bill Murray thinks Ghostbusters: Afterlife could spark the same magic. Here's what Billy Murray said about the script for Ghostbusters: Afterlife:

Unfortunately for Ghostbusters fans, it was announced by Sony that Ghostbusters: Afterlife would be delayed due to current events. It was originally scheduled for release on August 7, 2021, but is now set to release on March 5, 2021. During the interview with Josh Gad, Jason Reitman said he’s currently editing the movie and has been glad to spend more time to spend on it. Hopefully, that means a great movie when it finally comes out.

As far as comedy casting goes, John Candy seems perfect for Ghostbusters and, as it turns out, director Ivan Reitman thought so, too. He sent John Candy the script first, wanting him to play the key role of Louis Tully, which would ultimately be played by Rick Moranis after John Candy turned it down.

So why did John Candy say no? Well, it sounds like Ivan Reitman and John Candy had creative differences over how the role would be played, with Candy having a wildly different take than Reitman. In an interview on the Ghostbusters YouTube channel, the director tells the story this way:

While it’s a shame we never got to see John Candy’s German-accented character on the big screen, we still got Rick Moranis, who knocked the role out of the park. So that’s a win either way.

A few years back, Ivan Reitman commented on John Candy’s refusal of the Ghostbusters role. Back then, he mentioned that John Candy also wanted the character to have “a bunch of German Shepherd Dogs,” which, I'm not going to lie, makes John Candy’s vision of the character even better.

Ghostbusters, of course, got a sequel in 1989 with Ghostbusters II. One of the main reasons for the original franchise's success is the roster of memorable characters like Louis Tully. Their absences could arguably be a major reason why many moviegoers weren't interested when the film was remade with an all-new cast. Though it seems Sony has now taken steps to rectify that by producing a true third film -- one directed by Ivan Reitman’s son, Jason.

Jason Reitman's Ghostbusters: Afterlife will, if the trailer is any indication, harken back to the original tone and feel of Ghostbusters. While almost all of the original cast is coming back for Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Rick Moranis’ Louis Tully will not be returning, unfortunately. As for the late John Candy, it's sad to think that we'll never know how his German-accented, German Shepherd-owning character would have played out, but at least we still have plenty of other signature roles to remember him by.

Everyone needs a good project to pass the time during quarantine, and Josh Gad’s Reunited Apart series has been the kind of nostalgic sugar high we can’t get enough of. The Frozen actor has been getting the cast of classic films such as The Goonies, Back to the Future and Lord of the Rings back together for Zoom calls. And who is he gonna call next? The Ghostbusters gang!

Ahead of the exciting, original cast reunion for next year’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Josh Gad has brought together director Ivan Reitman and the stars for a new episode coming this Monday. Take a look at the teaser for the next epic episode of Reunited Apart:

The two-minute clip starts with Josh Gad on a call with Ghostbusters: Afterlife’s writer/director Jason Reitman, who just happens to be the son of the director behind the original 1984 comedy. And once Jason gets dad Ivan Reitman on the call, suddenly the main cast Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts appear, too.

The teaser doesn’t go into the content of the interview, but it’s sure to be a fun ride down memory lane for the Ghostbusters cast and fans of the ‘80s phenomenon. Annie Potts is already seen quoting one of her famous lines from the movie, and we’d guess there’s a lot more where that came from.

Since Josh Gad has been abiding stay-at-home orders the past three months, he’s been revisiting a lot of his favorite movies and showing them to his kids. From this ritual came the idea for Reunited Apart, which has resulted in four movie reunions so far – the latest being Lord of the Rings. As Gad previously explained:

The Ghostbusters episode is hitting YouTube early in the day on June 15. Since Jason Reitman is on the call, we do wonder if there will be some teasing for Ghostbusters: Afterlife. The movie also starring Paul Rudd, Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard, Carrie Coon and Mckenna Grace was originally set to hit theaters in August but shifts to the release calendar now place the film over in March 2021.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife will center on a single mom (Coon) and her two kids (Wolfhard and Grace) as they move to a small town in Oklahoma. When the neighborhood starts to have unexplainable earthquakes, the supernatural may be to blame. The movie will feature the original cast (except for a couple absences) joining Reunited Apart, but we’re not sure how just yet.

Stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more updates on Ghostbusters: Afterlife and mark your calendars for its release on March 5, 2021.

The Ghostbusters 2020 cast is all smiles after busting ghosts for 68 days. Filming just wrapped on the family oriented sequel to the first two Ghostbusters movies. Jason Reitman is directing from a script he co-wrote, with his father Ivan Reitman -- who directed Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II -- as producer.

Ghostbusters 2020 filming began in July under the working title "Rust City" and you can see that it just finished this week in October 2019:

As Jason Reitman says, 68 days and still smiling. Bustin' makes 'em feel GOOD. You can see Ivan Reitman to the far left in the photo, and clockwise from there we have newcomer Logan Kim at the bottom, back up to Stranger Things' Finn Wolfhard, then my eternal The Leftovers queen Carrie Coon, an almost unrecognizable Mckenna Grace, and director Jason Reitman himself at the far right.

As far as we know, Ghostbusters 2020 will focus on two sets of teens -- one set older, and one younger. Carrie Coon is meant to play a single mother, with Mckenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard as her kids. It's possible Logan Kim and another announced cast member, Celeste O’Connor, are playing the other young and older teens.

Captain Marvel's Mckenna Grace reportedly has a lead role, and when we saw the first photos of her new look for Ghostbusters 2020, it immediately got fans thinking her character might be related to Egon Spengler. As you probably know, we lost Ghostbusters' Egon actor Harold Ramis in 2014.

This new movie is meant to be closely tied to the original movies as a direct sequel to 1984's Ghostbusters and 1989's Ghostbusters II. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, and Annie Potts are all said to be reprising their original characters.

Dan Aykroyd confirmed Ghostbusters 2020 follows "the actual descendants of the original Ghostbusters." So even though no characters have been confirmed, I have a hard time believing Mckenna Grace isn't going to star in this as an adorable mini Spengler. If Finn Wolfhard is her brother, then maybe they are Egon's kids or grandkids?

Don't forget that Paul Rudd will also be in Ghostbusters 2020, and Variety said he'll be playing a teacher. Fargo Season 2 -- aka the best season -- standout Bokeem Woodbine is also on board as Sheriff Domingo.

Ghostbusters 2020 has plenty of time to add supernatural goodness in VFX since the movie isn't scheduled to hit theaters until this coming summer, July 10, 2020. We're still on standby for more confirmed information about the movie, and of course the first trailer.

Are you as excited for Ghostbusters 2020 as the smiling faces above? Keep up with everything still heading to the big screen this year with our 2019 movie release date schedule. You can also prepare for next year with our 2020 movie release date schedule.

“I love rumors,” Jason Reitman joked to a crowd of people gathered at a Ghostbusters fan event in Los Angeles on June 8. The fans were there to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the original Ghostbusters film, and Jason Reitman was flanked by both his father, Ivan, and Paul Feig, who helmed a female-fronted Ghostbusters in 2016.

But largely, the crowd wanted to know details about the new Ghostbusters movie that Reitman is planning to release in 2020, and on this day, the writer-director was ready to share a few key details. Not all of them, mind you. He was still trying hard to protect as many plot details as he could, because he hasn’t even started filming the movie yet. But Reitman revealed some of his process, starting with the fact that the image of a little girl with a proton pack ended up being his inspiration for the new story.

Reitman told the crowd at the Ghostbusters fan event:

The 12-year-old girl who started the seed of an idea in the creative mind of Jason Reitman will be played by Mckenna Grace, the young actress who recently played young Carol Danvers in Captain Marvel, and also acted alongside Chris Evans in Gifted. The larger family that he speaks of will be played by Stranger Things and IT star Finn Wolfhard, and Carrie Coon as the kids’ mom.

Their hiring has been reported on by the trades, and Reitman talked at length at the fan event about why he hired them for his new picture. Mckenna Grace, in particular, sounds like she is an enormous Ghostbusters fan, and Reitman told a touching story about her emotional reaction when he was able to tell Grace that she landed the role.

The “rumors” that Jason Reitman was referring to had to do with information shared by original Ghostbusters star Sigourney Weaver, who recently stated how excited she was to return to the franchise with original stars Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray and Ernie Hudson.

Reitman would not confirm at the event that the four original actors will return – he wanted to retain some secrets – though he did confirm that each one of them has read his screenplay, and seemed to be hinting that the four actors would be back.

Jason Reitman also acknowledged the work that Paul Feig did with his female Ghostbusters. While the director took a lot of heat from so-called fans for his 2016 comedy, Reitman made it clear how helpful that movie was toward establishing the new world in which he wants to create and write Ghostbusters stories. Reitman said to Feig:

Back to the movie that he is trying to make. Jason Reitman opened up a little bit more on the family that will be central to his movie. He said that this is not building off of the existing two movies. But there are threads that will connect all of the films. He stated:

The idea of a “new location” really intrigues me for Reitman’s Ghostbusters movie. Then original two movies, as well as Paul Feig’s attempt, really leaned hard on New York City as its setting, but the supernatural exist everywhere. We are about to see another classic Sony property leap away from Manhattan when Men In Black International opens. Will this updated Ghostbusters follow a similar track?

It’s pretty amazing that, 35 years after the debut of the original movie, we are still talking about new Ghostbusters stories that are making their way to theaters. It speaks to the passion of the fanbase, but also to the loyalties of the group that played the team in the first place. Dan Aykroyd has never given up on getting new Ghostbusters movies into theaters. And Hudson, Murray and Weaver all showed up in Feig’s reboot, so the connections remain strong.

Now we wait to see what will come of Jason Reitman’s attempt to carry the baton passed from his father, Ivan, to a new generation of fans. We have a teaser trailer to chew on:

But after that, we only have a release date on Sony’s movie schedule to circle. The as-yet-untitled Ghostbusters movie will open in theaters on July 10, 2020. Are you ready to believe in the possibility of an exciting new Ghostbusters movie again?

In recent years, CBS has seemed very intent on buttressing its hit original programming library with movie-to-TV reboots. From Rush Hour to Training Day to Limitless, the network is fond of these kinds of attempts, though none of those actually lasted. The latest such project heading into development is a televised remake of the Bill Murray-starring military comedy Stripes. What's more, Stripes 2.0 has the film's director Ivan Reitman on board as a producer and possibly more.

Now, before everyone starts cheering or groaning -- I'm certain the words "Stripes TV reboot" inspire a wealth of extreme emotions in some people -- the project is just going into the early development stages now, so this is basically a way for CBS to say it's got people thinking pretty hard about it. One of those people is Ivan Reitman, helmer and producer of the 1981 original, who apparently isn't against directing the comedy's pilot episode, according to EW; assuming CBS decides to put one into production, that is. Should it happen, Stripes would be Reitman's second time getting behind the camera for a TV pilot, though this gig probably has a better shot than the 2004 rom-com pilot Cooking Lessons did.

While the original was written by Len Blum, Harold Ramis and Daniel Goldberg, the Stripes TV show is being put together by Trevor Moore, Sam Brown and Zach Cregger. If those names aren't immediately familiar, they're three of the founding members of the sketch comedy troupe The Whitest Kids U' Know, as well as the co-creators of the IFC series of the same name. Fans of theirs will recall that they created the movie (that was split up and aired on the series) The Civil War on Drugs, which doesn't really need much of an explanation for everyone to understand that they could bring a "unique" angle to a comedy about war and the military.

The sometimes ribald film starred Bill Murray as a down-on-his-luck guy who, without any other clear options, decided to join the Army, where hijinks and bonding ensued. The update would similarly be about a "perennial rebellious outsider" who realizes his life's calling after joining the military, where he's forced to bring together a bunch of "ragtag eccentrics." It's likely CBS will want to find a few familiar faces for this one, since Murray's co-stars included Harold Ramis, John Candy, John Larroguette, Joe Flaherty and Sean Young.

CBS, which also has Shemar Moore's S.W.A.T. as another current movie-to-TV remake, has the military drama SEAL Team on the schedule, with several other networks also shooting for military dramas this TV season. But has what we've been missing actually been a military comedy all along? We'll see, depending on how quickly the network moves forward with Stripes. And if it makes it to series, can Ivan Reitman maybe put some thought into that Ghostbusters TV show idea that Dan Aykroyd recently told CinemaBlend about?

While waiting to see what happens there, head to our fall TV premiere schedule to see what other new and returning shows are on the way. And to see what's coming to CBS and beyond in the new year, our 2018 midseason premiere schedule will be a good help.

It's about to be a very good week for fans of Netflix's Stranger Things. Because after over a year of waiting and speculating, Season 2 is finally arriving on the 27th. These extra few months of waiting has been excruciating, although it appears that Stranger Things 2 has been timed to perfectly sync up to Halloween-- which the boys will be celebrating in the opening episodes. Mike and his friends have been shown wearing some awesome Ghostbusters costumes, but how exactly did Stranger Things get the rights to the costumes? The Duffer Brothers recently revealed this process, which included asking both Dan Aykroyd and Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman for permission.

Sometimes all you have to do is ask. That, and have one of the most popular and acclaimed new shows from the past year. That probably helps.

Matt Duffer's comments to EW show just how much of a passion project Stranger Things truly is. The duo of brothers are crafting a story filled with references and moments that they love. Season 1 was jam packed with homages and easter eggs for classic 80s horror movies, and Stranger Things 2 looks like it will be no exception. And luckily for The Duffer Brothers, Ivan Reitman seems to be a fan of the series, especially the upcoming episodes. Now we just have to stop being so jealous that Reitman got to read the scripts.

Mike and his buddies aren't the only Stranger Things characters who are dressed up as classic horror/ sci-fi movie figures in the new season. Newcomer tomboy Max (Sadie Sink) was shown in a sneak peek clip dressed up as Michael Meyers from the Halloween franchise. Plus, the premiere episode is named "Mad Max" after the classic action film of the same title. Overall, it looks like the show's sophomore season will be just as jammed packed with homages and clever nods as the first entry.

It should be interesting to see exactly how Halloween, and the boys' Ghostbusters costumes, factor into the narrative of Stranger Things 2. From the trailers, it certainly seems like Will is going to have another one of his visions of The Upside Down, most likely bringing the first official appearance of the Shadow Monster. Hopefully we'll also be treated to the Halloween costumes of other characters like Nancy, Joyce, and Steve. We'll just have to wait a few more days to see.

Stranger Things will release its second season in its entirety October 27th on Netflix. In the meantime, check out our fall premiere list to plan your next binge watch.

Worlds were "rocked" and childhoods were "ruined" when a female Ghostbusters team answered the call in 2016. Led by Melissa McCarthy and Kate McKinnon, the team battled spirits on screen, and trolls in the comments section of endless film sites. People wanted to see the original characters on screen. Well, they eventually got their original characters in new stories... sort of. IDW publishing cooked up Ghostbusters 101, a comic book storyline that used interdimensional portals to create a way for the two Ghostbuster teams to interact. And during a panel at San Diego Comic-Con, original Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman spoke about the fan reaction to the two team's teaming up, saying:

This solicited a cheer from the crowd, who had come to the panel hoping Ivan Reitman would reveal more about his master plan for the future of this beloved franchise. But Reitman stopped short, saying he "wouldn't be revealing any more secrets" during that panel.

But at different points during the conversation, which delved into the numerous books being planned by IDW, Ivan Reitman let slip little nuggets that informed his valuable opinion about how the Ghostbusters franchise should proceed after the 2016 comedy, which was directed by Paul Feig. Reitman began the panel at San Diego Comic-Con by saying that fans had let him know -- and he actually agreed -- that they were disappointed that the history of the franchise, which had been cultivated over the course of two films in the 1980s, wasn't picked up at all by the new franchise. He spoke about how weird it felt to have the original stars of the series play roles that weren't their classic parts. I mean, that Bill Murray scene was a super weird scene.

And as IDW continued to discuss the number of Ghostbusters comics that rolled out -- or will roll out, as they try to combine the worlds of the Real Ghostbusters and the different casts, as well -- Ivan Reitman continued to talk about his plan. He confirmed the push to make another live-action movie, and an animated feature that he says will be told from "a ghost's point of view." Sounds interesting.

But it was Ivan Reitman's reply after the conversation of the teaming of the two Ghostbusters teams -- 1984 and 2016 -- that sounded like this is an idea that he liked for a live action movie. I have no idea how that is possible. Given the ages of the original cast, and their reluctance to be in any Ghostbusters movie that Dan Aykroyd wanted to mount, I doubt Ivan Reitman could work enough magic to pull this off. What do you think? Do you like this idea? Would this work, on any level?

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After wowing audiences for three seasons on Saturday Night Live, it was finally decided in 1979 that Bill Murray should lead his own comedy. That comedy was Meatballs, and it was a huge success from the get-go, grossing $43 million from a budget of $1.6 million. But while Bill Murray and the film's director, Ivan Reitman, can look back on Meatballs now as the start of something special, on the first day of production, the actor immediately stressed out Ivan Reitman by dismissing the script and then throwing it in the bin. Despite it obviously being in jest, Ivan Reitman has now admitted that this experience left him terrified, recalling:

Yep, that sounds like classic Bill Murray. The actor has developed a reputation for his bizarre behavior both on and off set. None of it is actually that malicious, though, as in the past he has simply walked up to people in diners and stolen their fries, rode a child's bike through Wal-Mart on a number of occasions, photo-bombed engagement pictures and bartended at a hipster bar in Brooklyn.

However, you can understand why Ivan Reitman might have felt a little aggrieved at the treatment that Bill Murray gave the script, which Len Blum, Dan Goldberg, Janis Allen and Harold Ramis had worked so hard at creating. Clearly it didn't leave too much of a sour taste, though. That's because Ivan Reitman went on to work several more times with Bill Murray, directing him in Stripes, Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II.

But this all began with Meatballs, which was actually shot in the summer of 1978 in Haliburton, Canada. Those involved in Meatballs have been recalling its production, release,and lasting impact with Vanity Fair. In this piece, it is revealed that Ivan Reitman had to hound Bill Murray into accepting the part in Meatballs, and even three days before filming was due to start, they weren't actually certain that he'd read the script or if he'd turn up. Thankfully for Meatballs, and film history, Bill Murray arrived on set, and subsequently charmed movie audiences.

While Meatballs launched Bill Murray's hugely successful career, it also spawned three sequels of its own, too. Meatballs Part II arrived in 1984, Meatballs III: Summer Job in 1986 and Meatballs 4 in 1992. None of them involved Bill Murray or Ivan Reitman, though, and as a result are predictably awful.

If there's something strange in the neighborhood, it could be the fallout from last summer's middling Ghostbusters reboot. While the film performed rather admirably, considering the pre-release backlash and post-release results that were had, it still wasn't the success Sony was probably hoping for. But hope springs eternal, especially with Ivan Reitman and the Ghost Corps team, who are already planning their next steps into paranormal investigation on the silver screen, as multiple films are in the works within the Ghostbusters canon.

In a chat with the folks over at iO9, Reitman laid out some rather interesting plans for the Ghostbusters name to continue its silver screen tradition. With the statement below, the series creator and shepherd confirmed an animated film we already knew was on the books, as well as a little something extra:

Hearing about the animated film is no surprise, as it was the first big move that the Ghostbusters brass made after director Paul Feig's version of the mythos underperformed according to their standards. But Ivan Reitman mentioning a new live action film is a rather surprising development, as that was certainly not a part of any plans we could recall being mentioned before now. Of course, that was the only comment that Reitman made about the project on the whole, which assures that whatever this new live action film is, its approach is probably undefined for the time being.

What's going to be an interesting factor to keep an eye on is the fact whether or not Ghostbusters' newly announced live action film will be a sequel to 2016's universe or a brand new film altogether. It wouldn't be wise to hold one's breath for a Paul Feig flavored sequel, so that's probably safe to take off of the table. However, what could be interesting is if Sony and Ghost Corps decided to revive the once rumored Ghostbusters project with Chris Pratt and Channing Tatum at the center of the film's cast. Whatever it is, it'll definitely have to line up with whatever the animated film is planning to do, considering Ivan Reitman wants to blend the two universes together.

For now, the animated Ghostbusters film will be the first out of the gate, and Ghost Corps has a timeline they'd love to keep in mind for the film. Considering they've already got director Fletcher Moules working on the project, it's not hard to believe this film will be in production sooner rather than later. The studio is aiming for a 2018 or 2019 release date for their animated project, but when it comes to their next Ghostbusters picture, Ivan Reitman is quick to remind us that this plan is as good as the work going into it execution. Simply put, Reitman issued the following caveat speaking towards when to expect that animated picture:

For now, we'll have to wait and see how exactly the Ghostbusters legacy continues to move forward into the future. But for now, it's at least comforting to know that there are irons in the fire. Let's just hope interest doesn't cool too much between now and whenever one of those irons strikes the screen. We'll keep you posted as soon as we have any new developments for any incarnation of Ivan Reitman's legendary comedy franchise, so stay tuned to us here at CinemaBlend.

This summer saw the release of Ghostbusters, a film that was "controversial" right out the gate because it was opposed by an intense group of online fans. The reboot wasn't the hit that Sony was betting on and the mixed critical response have left plans for a sequel incredibly unclear. Ivan Reitman, director of the original 1984 film and a producer on the reboot, recently weighed in on Sony's game plan for the franchise, but those hoping for a direct sequel might be disappointed.

In an interview with the Mr. Wavvy podcast (via ComicBook), Ivan Reitman was asked about the fate of the planned Ghostbusters sequel that was teased in the films after credits scene. Sony has kept any news and updates regarding a return to the Melissa McCarthy-led team locked tight and Reitman wasn't much different. Reitman only spoke in the general statement in regards to Sony's plans for Ghostbusters, which is that they do have plans for Ghostbusters.

We need to be clear that Ivan Reitman doesn't explicitly hint at a sequel for the current franchise -- only that there will be more Ghostbusters films. He doesn't seem to be referring to the Paul Feig-helmed film, but to the Ghostbusters brand in general. That could mean anything from an entirely new Ghostbusters film with a new cast to a new television series. Sony is hoping to branch out the Ghostbusters name in a big way and they already have a new animated series in the works. They also set up Ghost Corps, a subsidiary production company whose sole responsibility is to develop new Ghostbusters themed content. So yes, the brand is strong, and the future is bright.

Whether that means Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones will be along for the ride is up to debate. The recent reboot was a topic of controversy for almost its entire production. Some fans cited issues with the idea of rebooting a "perfect" movie like Ghostbusters in general, while others didn't like that it was done with an all-female cast. The film didn't get a strong critical response, and while it's opening weekend numbers weren't bad, it wasn't busting down any doors either. The film also reportedly lost $70 million, though Sony has said that number was wildly exaggerated.

The after credits scene of Ghostbusters teased that the team would fight the agents of Gozer in a sequel, but Sony has yet to officially announce plans. Director Paul Feig -- who fought a gauntlet of criticism and downright hate -- has stated that he would like to return to the world and characters but "hasn't gotten any calls." It's clear that we're not done with Ghostbusters just yet, but only time will tell how Sony plans to move going forward.

We're currently in a mini-era of Ghostbusters mania, with Paul Feig's female-fronted reboot hitting theaters next month and more projects in the works, and if you thought that the franchise would restrict itself to theaters and video game consoles in the near future, your imagination is being haunted by limitation. Sony Pictures Animation has announced a brand new set of Ghostbusters adventures are on the way through the animated series Ghostbusters: Ecto Force, which sounds like a big hot mess of a concept set to debut in early 2018.

While Ghostbusters: Echo Force doesn't have a lengthy synopsis this early in the game, the simple logline is still filled with groan-worthy ideas. First, the show is going to focus on a new set of characters taking on the ghostbusting mantle, and though that's completely understandable given licensing issues between TV and movies, the show will take place in the year 2050. While that choice of setting might not be purposefully meant to imply that all the original Ghostbusters are dead in this timeline, it certainly doesn't stop me from thinking about that.

So not only are we inexplicably in the future, with a promise of "some very cool new gear!" being granted to this new ghoul-trapping generation, but the show will also take viewers all over the world. Why, you might ask? Because we're going to watch this new iteration work with a bunch of different Ghostbusters teams from a variety of different countries. Hmm. Is that really what we wanted from this franchise, for it to resemble Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders as closely as possible?

I should say here that I'm fully aware being a 33-year-old grumpus griping about cartoons aimed at kids isn't the best way to make use of the fact that I'm not a ghost myself, but this all makes even my 10-year-old inner child weep. I'm just picturing all the half-cocked updates that ruled over children's programming in the 1990s, such as 1997's Extreme Ghostbusters, which most certainly did not live up to that title.

Sony Pictures Animation is working with Ivan Reitman and his production company Ghost Corps on this series, which makes me wonder just how hands-on the filmmaker was in putting this thing together. As a major fan of The Real Ghostbusters animated series, I know it's possible that I'm just holding that at such a high esteem that I won't allow optimism for a futuristic globe-trotting version of the team, and that this could certainly defy expectations. The new movie has gotten a ton of flak from the general public with its lackluster marketing scheme, so it was quite a shock when O.G. 'busters like Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd have offered unexpected praise for the film. I'm down to give anything a shot once it's in its final incarnation, but I also see nothing wrong with thinking Ghostbusters: Ecto Force sounds dumb based solely on that description.

For what it's worth, Sony Pictures Animation is also working on a TV show from the Hotel Transylvania franchise that will focus on Dracula's teenage daughter, as well as the previously announced TV show for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. There's also the feature-length animated Smurfs: The Lost Village and Emojimovie: Express Yourself. I guess I would have been more upset had a new Ghostbusters show been told through emoji, so that's something of a silver lining. Maybe.

We have quite a while to wait to see what Australian and Japanese Ghostbusters are like, but you can catch a bunch of funny women blasting and trapping spooky entities when the new Ghostbusters hits theaters on July 15, 2016.

Ivan Reitman, who helmed the original two Ghostbusters movies back in 1984 and 1989, respectively, was attached to helm the next chapter of the franchise all the way back in 2010 - but all that changed when Harold Ramis died and Reitman stepped away from the project’s director’s chair. Eventually Paul Feig came aboard to replace him, ultimately completely changing the direction of the film, but the filmmaker did still play a very key role in the production, specifically as the protector of the Ghostbusters legacy.

It was yesterday during a special Ghostbusters presentation on the Sony Pictures studio lot in Los Angeles, CA that Ivan Reitman defined his role during the making of the reboot as he sat beside writer/director Paul Feig, and co-writer Katie Dippold. Asked about not wanting the new film to feel like a copycat or clichéd, Reitman explained how he saw his role as a producer on the project, and as the present representative of the old guard. Said the filmmaker,

It was in early 2014 that Ivan Reitman announced his decision to vacate the wheel of the next Ghostbusters movie (which at the time was still being planned as Ghostbusters 3). At the time, the filmmaker was not only dealing with the death of friend and colleague Harold Ramis, but also had just come off the making of his football movie Draft Day. He explained that he found making a smaller and dramatic project "so much fun and satisfying," and after Ramis’ funeral left him in deep thought, he told Sony executives Amy Pascal and Doug Belgrad that he would rather produce the new Ghostbusters instead of directing it.

Certainly one of the most interesting things about the new Ghostbusters movie will be seeing how it compares and contrasts to the original in terms of style. Paul Feig and Ivan Reitman have some shared sensibilities, but you also wouldn’t exactly confuse their individual bodies of work. Exactly how much influence Reitman’s work had on Feig during the making of the movie will be a different angle to view the film through – knowing that Reitman made sure that the new title is an authentic Ghostbusters story.

We have a lot more Ghostbusters content coming your way, so stay tuned – and get ready for the film to arrive in theaters July 15th.

The popularity of the Ghostbusters franchise is kind of an amazing thing to behold when you consider that it’s really only the first movie that is so beloved. Even a mediocre at best sequel could not tarnish people’s desire to see more. A third movie in the series was one of those often spoken of but never realized projects. Both original writers, Dan Aykroyd and the late Harold Ramis, were interested in making the movie, but the two could never get Bill Murray on board. How does Aykroyd feel about the squeaky wheel that refused the grease? He says he doesn’t have any hard feelings about it, though he can’t help but also point out the totally awesome role that Murray would have had if he’d just said yes to the thing.

Dan Aykroyd recently admitted:

In the same interview with Entertainment Weekly, Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman says that Bill Murray wasn’t particularly interested in doing a sequel the first time around. The fact that the follow-up was not nearly as well received as the original likely played a part in his lack of interest to return to it again. It may also be somewhat telling that Dan Aykroyd references Murray having a low tolerance for bullshit. Is there an admittance here that the various Ghostbusters 3 scripts may not have been very good? To be fair, he also had some ongoing issues with Harold Ramis that may have also played a part.

Hellbent was one of Dan Aykroyd’s attempts at a third Ghostbusters film. It would have had the Ghostbusters traveling to hell to find an alternate, hellish version of New York City. Murray had previously referred to that script as "too crazy to comprehend." Exactly what would have made Peter Venkman’s character in that script so wonderful is not entirely clear. With Harold Ramis now gone, that script is officially over for the original Ghostbusters, though Aykroyd still has hopes of filming it one day with a younger cast.

Murray has not given up on the Ghostbusters on the whole, however. He will be appearing in a role in the new reboot, though as a new character, not his previous Ghostbuster self. This may be a very good sign for the new film, as if Bill Murray truly has such high standards he wouldn’t be showing up if the new movie wasn’t worth it. The all-new Ghostbusters movie will hit theaters in July of 2016.

While the Ghostbusters franchise relaunches next year with an impressive lineup of funny female talent, reports of a subsequent guy-centric counterpart film came and went… until they came back again. Now they might be going again. Writer Drew Pearce, who is attached to the franchise spinoff, straightens the record on the project’s alleged man-filled mandate. At the same time, Ivan Reitman denies its existence.

Reitman, who directed the original two Ghostbusters films and has been tied to the reboots, issued a declarative statement today backing Paul Feig’s planned Ghostbusters and taking the air out of the male-centric adventure. The statement reads:

Some of that "noise" is coming from writer Drew Pearce. Making some critical clarifications on Twitter, Pearce gets down to brass tacks, using two tweets to debunk some rumors about the mysterious Ghostbusters spinoff; most notably, one long-held misconception that portrayed the project as the "all-male" counterpart to the next year’s all-female version directed by Paul Feig. As Pearce unambiguously states:

By revealing the more inclusive nature of his yet-to-be-scripted idea, it might alleviate the perception that the rumored "all-male" project said to star Channing Tatum and Chris Pratt was a pessimistic attempt to dangle the carrot that was a "real" Ghostbusters movie with men on the horizon to mitigate the social media outrage over the female-led version. With the idea introduced of a possible mixed-gender team, it raises questions about the actual purpose of this particular spinoff effort if the marketing is not be gender/demographically-aimed. Thus, the wisdom behind a star-studded spinoff to an unproven reboot effort might make less sense.

Interestingly enough, Pearce’s follow-up tweet on the Ghostbusters issue, clarifies on another critical fact: he did NOT write the script. At least, not yet, anyway. For the moment, his only involvement with the franchise entailed writing a "bible" for the rebooted film universe. In other words, Sony has apparently invested enough faith in Pearce, the Iron Man 3 and Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation scribe, to make him the Joss Whedon-type figure of what’s looking to be an expansive Ghostbusters cinematic universe. It’s certainly quite the honor, even though the idea, which has been previously discussed, might leave fans scratching their heads wondering if the mythos is deep enough to warrant such treatment.

Except Ivan Reitman has dumped some cold water on the forward momentum. For now.

In the meantime, the female-led Ghostbusters starring Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon has a set date with something strange in the neighborhood on July 22, 2016.

Ivan Reitman certainly didn't need to give up the director's chair to Ghostbusters 3. He had been attached to helm the film for years, and as the director of both Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters 2 he was the most logical choice to close out the trilogy. Still, that didn't stop him from giving up the job back in March, and letting Sony search for a new filmmaker to guide the project. So why exactly did Reitman decide not to direct Ghostbusters 3? According to him, it was a mix of both personal and professional conflicts.

With Reitman's most recent film, Draft Day, soon coming to Blu-ray and DVD, the filmmaker recently did an interview with Coming Soon and revealed what his ultimate reasons for not directing Ghostbusters 3. As you might have imagined, the death of Ghostbusters star Harold Ramis had a significant impact on the decision, but also playing an important factor was the fact that Bill Murray showed no interest in returning as the great Peter Venkman. He became aware within himself that Ghostbusters 3 didn't need him to direct, and that he didn't really need to be the one to direct Ghostbusters 3. Said Reitman,

While it hasn't been officially confirmed yet, recent reports have suggested that Sony has already found their "somebody else." Earlier this month it was reported that the studio is now looking at Bridesmaids director Paul Feig as the new director of Ghostbusters 3. This news paired well with the rumors that the blockbuster sequel would be changing gears and feature a predominantly female cast. None of this has been confirmed yet, though the sources are strong. Sadly, Reitman made no mention of the developments with Feig, so there's no new information there. Still, the original Ghostbusters director did stress that he is still very involved with the development of the movie as a producer, which presumably means that he has a big part in finding his replacement.

We learned earlier this year that Ghostbusters 3 is aiming to go into production at the start of 2015, and right now it looks like the project is actually on schedule to make that happen. None of the cast has been set in place yet, though its been reported that both Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson will have small roles to play. We can probably expect the next few months to be filled with regular casting rumors/official announcements, so be sure to stay tuned!

After many, many, many years of false starts and rumors, it's tremendously hard to really trust Ghostbusters 3 stories anymore, but we may now be closer than ever to seeing the film actually happen: Deadline is now reporting that Sony Pictures is moving full steam ahead with the 80s comedy sequel and plans to have cameras rolling on the production early next year. Perhaps the biggest new development, however, is in regard to who will be sitting in the director's chair.

While it has long been planned that it would be Ivan Reitman who would end up directing Ghostbusters 3 - as he was also the man behind the first two movies - apparently that is no longer the case. Following the tragic death of star Harold Ramis, Reitman has decided that he no longer wants to direct the film himself. Instead, he will only serve as a producer and will assist the studio in finding his replacement.

Reitman actually spoke with Deadline to announce his decision to step away as director on the project and the filmmaker also went into some detail about the trials and the tribulations that the project has experienced over the years. He explains what kind of role we can expect the original Ghostbusters to have in the script and that he ultimately just wasn't interested in taking on a blockbuster-level film. Said the filmmaker,

Exactly who those original Ghostbusters will be remains a big question mark. Bill Murray has really been out of the picture since 2012, and after Ramis passing that only leaves Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson. Even Hudson's connection to the project may be questionable, however. After Ramis' death, the actor known to fans as Winston Zeddmore told a reporter, "There can't be another Ghostbusters without Harold. It will be a Ghost- something, but it won't be... That was always my fear - that something would happen before we all got together."

As for the search for Reitman's replacement, the filmmaker and the studio have already been working on drafting a short list and a timetable is already being put in place. "I’m not going to say how many Ghostbusters there will be in the new cast, but we are determined to retain the spirit of the original film, and I am pleased that all of this seems to have happened organically," Reitman told the site. "I’m hoping we can get started by the fall, set in New York, but given the logistics and the stuff that happens, the beginning of 2015 seems more likely."

Are you happy? Sad? Excited? Angry? Let us know what you're feeling in the comments below.

Harold Ramis' death has likely left many of us feeling a mixture of sadness and fond amusement as we grieve but also remember some of his best work in comedy. For those of us who grew up believing that regular scientists could achieve superhero status with the right equipment on their backs, Ramis' face may be best associated with his role as Egon Spengler in Ghostbusters, and it's that film that MegaCynics referenced in their cartoon to pay tribute to Ramis...

The picture shows a ghosty Harold Ramis hovering over the ghost trap, while the other three wave goodbye. One stands just inches away from the pedal on the floor that would shut the trap. Ray, Pete and Winston look sad, but I like that there's a small smile on Egon's face.

Among the other fans reacting to Ramis' death is President Obama himself, who -- according to NBC News -- issued a statement reacting to the actor/director's passing, stating that Ramis was one of America's greatest satirist and a proud product of Chicago's Second City. He went on to specify some of the movies he and First Lady Michelle Obama remember best...

Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman and Ramis' co-star Dan Aykroyd's statements were shared by EW. Of Ramis' passing, Aykroyd said he was "Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my brilliant, gifted, funny friend, co-writer/performer and teacher Harold Ramis. May he now get the answers he was always seeking."

Ramis not only starred in Ghostbusters, but he also co-wrote it. Reitman spoke fondly of Ramis' ability to understand what was funny.

Ernie Hudson told TMZ that "Harold was the glue. There wouldn't be a Ghostbusters without Harold Ramis. Harold pulled it together. And I know I wouldn't probably be in the business, had I not had the chance to work with Harold at that time in my career. He taught me a lot." Hudson went on to say that there "Can't be another Ghostbusters without Harold."

And then there's Bill Murray's statement -- via Time -- in which he cites some of the projects they did together (Meatballs, Stripes, Caddyshack, Ghostbusters and Groundhog Day among them) and goes on to say, "He earned his keep on this planet. God bless him."

It's a simple statement, but it says a lot.

I like to think that making someone laugh from the heart leaves an imprint on them, and if that's true then Harold Ramis' contributions to this world run a bit deeper than simply making his mark on cinema history. He affected people, and that kind of contribution is lasting. As someone who grew up watching his movies, I have no doubt that some of my sense of humor was shaped by films like Groundhog Day and Ghostbusters, so I'm especially grateful for what Ramis gave us, and I know I'm not alone. You can read Sean O'Connell's tribute to Ramis here.

Our thoughts go out to Ramis' friends and family in their time of loss.

We’ve been hearing Ghostbusters 3 rumors for so long I'm wondering when the King James version is going to come out. As potentially wonderful as this project may have been at one point, it is now a dead horse dragged to the point of decay. But the best place to find a ghost is around something dead, so Dan Aykroyd is back at it, appearing on Larry King Now (via Coming Soon). In the interview he doesn't only talk about Ghostbusters 3, of course, but this portion of their conversation is notable both for showcasing Aykroyd’s faith in this project and for revealing that Larry King clearly has no idea what Ghostbusters is (despite having appeared in the first film).

Aykroyd wasn’t exactly forthcoming with new details, either, though he did promise King a role in this one, where he could “comment on what’s happening in Manhattan up there at Morningside Heights. It’s going to be quite a spectacular scene once the stuff starts to break.” The specificity level of that sentence fell off there at the end. As far as the plot itself, here is what Ray Stantz had to say about it, straddling the line between informative and fanaticism.

And in reference to the film going forward without Bill Murray, Aykroyd says, “If Billy wants to walk in the door and be in the movie, we will find a place.” Fucking right you will.

Assuming all else stays the same, Ghostbusters 3 will be directed by Ivan Reitman and with a screenplay written by Etan Cohen. There is a rumor that it will shoot for a release next year to coincide with the original film’s 30th anniversary, but there’s a lot of ectoplasm to wade through before that becomes likely.

The NFL Draft was held just two weeks ago, and while it is tempting to just spend the rest of this story talking about all the surprise picks and equally surprising snubs, this is Cinema Blend, not Nick’s Football Blog. Luckily, the Draft is where production began on Ivan Reitman’s next film, the football comedy Draft Day, which added a slew of actors just before the Draft started. If you’re like me, you figured that the film’s casting process was over, but that isn’t the case at all.

Superman has joined the film, or at least Smallville’s Tom Welling has, according to Deadline. Welling hasn’t been in a feature film since the one-two punch of 2005’s Cheaper by the Dozen 2 and the remake of The Fog, but he appeared for ten seasons as Clark Kent on CW’s Smallville, and he’ll be playing secret service agent Roy Kellerman in Peter Landesman’s upcoming JFK drama Parkland.

For Draft Day, Welling will play veteran Brian Drew, a past-his-prime quarterback whose career is in question. I’m assuming he plays for the Cleveland Browns, the team at the film’s center, though the Deadline story doesn’t make that clear. Kevin Costner plays the Browns’ GM, whose main goal is acquiring the first pick of the NFL Draft and saving football in his city. I’ll go ahead and also assume that a Brian Drew trade will be at the center of the Browns getting that first round pick. I just hope he’s not as arrogant as Corbin Bernsen’s Roger Dorn in Major League.

The film also stars Frank Langella as the Browns’ owner, Jennifer Garner as Costner’s secretary and Ellen Burstyn as Costner’s mother. The surrounding cast includes Timothy Simons, Chad Boseman, Terry Crews, Sean Combs and Rosanna Arquette. The cast is nearly the size of a starting lineup, so let’s hope they cooperate nearly as well.

As a lifelong football fan, I’ve been less than impressed with many films that involve the often brutal sport, due to their inadequacies in balancing the games within the plotline. And appreciation for football comedies is almost non-existent. The Longest Yard, Little Giants and a handful of others, but it’s a small playing field. Ivan Reitman’s upcoming NFL comedy Draft Day is certainly ramping up anticipation with a star-filled cast, so let’s hope it doesn’t drop the ball, get sacked, and every other football pun you can think of.

Draft Day’s cast has gained a thespian in Frank Langella, who will star in his third Reitman film, after the mostly stellar Dave and the mostly forgettable Junior. Deadline reports he’ll play Harvey Molina, the fictional owner of the Cleveland Browns. Kevin Costner will be playing his boss, the Browns’ general manager, as the coaching staff struggles to snag the #1 pick on Draft Day. Veep’s Timothy Simons recently signed on to play a scout within the draft day war room, and the film also stars Jennifer Garner, who will play Costner’s secretary. Denis Leary fits into it somewhere as well.

Langella, nominated for an Oscar for his role in Frost/Nixon, most recently played a petty thief with a robo-companion in the pleasing indie Robot and Frank, and will next be seen in the Princess Grace biopic Grace of Monaco, as well as Mike Newell’s biographical drama Reykjavik, which centers on the historic meeting between Reagan (Michael Douglas) and Gorbachev (Christoph Waltz).

Draft Day is quickly trying to come together so that it can begin its production at the actual NFL Draft, which will take place from April 25-27. I can’t imagine what kind of cameos this movie is going to have. Maybe they can get New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez to work as a boom mike operator.

With two weeks left to go until the NFL Draft finds homes for some college football’s most gifted athletes, football fans are getting their ears filled with the minutiae of sports analysts endlessly showcasing their opinions through mock drafts. Here at Cinema Blend, we prefer a different kind of fictional football draft, such as the one central to Ivan Reitman’s upcoming comedy Draft Day, which is firmly back on track after a short stint in turnaround mode.

Given Reitman's recent track record we can't wholeheartedly jump on board this one, nut there’s no denying the film is building a cast that could definitely reassert Reitman as a comedy genius. The latest addition is just what the sports medicine doctor ordered. Deadline reports actor Timothy Simons has been signed to show his comedic chops alongside Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner and Denis Leary. Simons is best known as the insufferably proud White House rep Jonah Ryan on HBO’s Veep, which returns April 18. Considering he stands out against such comedy vets as Julia Louis Dreyfus, Tony Hale and Matt Walsh, it’s a good sign that he could give Draft Day another layer of laughs, even from what sounds like a fairly limited role.

The story for Draft Day is a 24-hour day in the life of the GM for the fledgling Buffalo Bills as he tries to pull off nabbing the #1 pick, and Simons will be playing Marx, an overbearing Cleveland Brown scout who doesn’t shy away from making his opinions heard in the draft day war room. Just the location of “draft day war room” has such potential for loud, uproarious humor. Can we get Jeff Garlin and Larry David in this thing?

Simons can next be seen in the coming of age drama Blue Potato, directed by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, as well as Tom Sierchio’s indie drama The Girl Who Invented Kissing.

And since you readers are the #1 picks of our hearts, what better way to show our appreciation that the following draft day remix video from DJ Steve Porter.

Given the massive popularity of pro football, you'd think a Hollywood comedy revolving around an NFL team would be a no-brainer for any studio. But Draft Day, a spec script with big names like Ivan Reitman and Kevin Costner surrounding it, saw its option at Paramount run out this fall-- only to wind up landing at the top of the annual Black List of best unproduced screenplays. A Black List script with that kind of talent interested is basically the movie industry equivalent of a loose ball-- someone is going to grab it, and quick.

And now it looks like Lionsgate is going to be the ultimate victor of that shuffle. Vulture reports that the studio has been in talks with Ivan Reitman, currently on board as a director-producer, and that negotiations are about to begin with him as well as Costner, who had been set to star. He'll play the manager of the Buffalo Bills, a perennial underdog that's suddenly given an unexpected windfall: a first-round draft pick. The story won't be so much about the actual game but the wheeling and dealing that takes place behind the scenes, but based on the buzz surrounding the script, we're sure the action is just as exciting as anything that might happen on the field.

Though it's been ages since he headlined a hit, Costner is gearing up for a major comeback, starting with his starring role in the surprise smash miniseries Hatfields & McCoys and now leading into roles in two huge movies this year, Man of Steel and Jack Ryan. If those two put him back on top of the world again, Draft Day could be even more of a slam-dunk hit-- which is exactly what Lionsgate is counting on.

For those of you who were looking forward to Kevin Costner returning to his sports movie roots, with titles like Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, Tin Cup and For the Love of the Game on his filmography, I have some bad news. New reports are saying that because of obligations on the part of both Costner and director Ivan Reitman, the upcoming football drama Draft Day may have to throw the brakes on.

Explaining the situation, Deadline says that Paramount Pictures has only a limited amount of time to get the project off the ground because Costner is busy with the Jack Ryan reboot and the Luc Besson thriller Three Days To Kill, while Reitman is still working hard to try and turn the Ghostbusters reboot into something real. Unless they are able to squeeze the production into the impossibly small hole all of the projects create, Draft Day will have to wait until all of them have been completed. That said, one also can't ignore that Costner is also in the new Superman movie Man of Steel and that both that project and Jack Ryan could spur sequels that would need Costner's time. The project is currently in turnaround at the studio and could be sold to Alcon Entertainment.

The film, which Costner has been attached to since the middle of last month, is described as a "Moneyball-esque" drama set during the day of the annual NFL Draft and will follow the moves and decisions of the Buffalo Bills. The story is based on fiction and will have the Oscar winner playing the team's general manager.