Ghostbusters

Normally when '80s remake news makes its way to my computer screen, my knee-jerk reaction is something like, "People! Get some creativity and let that decade rest in peace already!" This morning, however, I read several confirmations that Ghostbusters 3 is in the works and surprised myself by feeling very, very excited.

I think there are several reasons for this including:

1. It has a good chance of not sucking, because it's in very capable hands. Two Emmy-nominated writers from The Office, Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, have been recruited "to work on a new installment of the 1980s franchise that starred Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Harold Ramis as bumbling ghost-hunting scientists."
2. The Hollywood Reporter also notes that "the original filmmakers, including director Ivan Reitman, and cast are aware of the project and involved in its development." Blessing from original director and cast? Another excellent sign.
3. And finally, it appears that we may get the best of both worlds cast-wise. Variety says the idea is to get the old gang back together in some capacity, while the Hollywood Reporter says that while original cast members may appear, the focus will be on a new group of ghostbusters. Either way, all signs point to some infusion of new talent. For example, E! has a quote from Dan Aykroyd implying he would love to have the Apatow comedy troupe involved. This is a good thing, because I'd hate to see the old ghostbusters strapping on their proton packs only to complain about how heavy they suddenly feel. I'd be worried a movie that only reunites the old cast one last time would feel too much like Wild Hogs.

So while there's a lot still up in the air, this news gets a big fat yay from me so far! What do you think? Are you excited for a third installment of this movie, and does it sound to you like it could actually be good? What actors would you want to see in a potential new cast? If you're not as pumped as I am yet, I dug up a little music video that I think might do the trick, so read more

• Columbia Pictures is in the process of writing a Ghostbusters reunion movie and intends to use the original cast for a third installment of the popular film. — BuzzSugar
• Oprah Winfrey has announced she will not be having Sarah Palin on her show until after the election. While Oprah endorses Obama, she says she decided not to use her show as a platform for any candidate. — TMZ
• David Arquette and Ben Harper are rumored to be launching a menswear line called Propr and might be showing looks from their collection on Sept. 8. — E! Online
• Anthony Edwards is reprising his role as Dr. Mark Greene on ER in a series of flashbacks on the Nov. 13 episode of this upcoming final season. — AP
• Musical group Heart is upset that John McCain and Sarah Palin played its song "Barracuda" at the RNC the past two nights, saying they weren't asked and would not have given permission to use the song. — TMZ
• Akon hit a female fan at his concert in South America last weekend after she tried to dance with him following his crowd surf. It was all caught on video. — The Sun
• America's Next Top Model judge Nigel Barker has announced that he and his wife are expecting a baby girl. — Us Weekly

Every other Wednesday on BuzzSugar, I post a Recast challenge, where I ask you to choose new actors for a classic TV show or movie. The reader who submits the best cast wins a BuzzSugar t-shirt!

Everyone came up with some terrific ensemble cast suggestions for this week's challenge to recast the '80s hit franchise Ghostbusters. I love bchicgrl's idea for Zach Braff as Dr. Raymond Stantz (originally played by Dan Aykroyd). It got me thinking that Mr. Braff should take a look at some fun, big-budget ensemble comedies as his next career move (rather than doing yet another quarterlife crisis flick).

When I think of Dana Barrett, the strong, down-to-earth character originally played by Sigourney Weaver, I totally agree with hollywoodholiday that Charlize Theron is just the type of actress to take on a role like that. biscuitgirl's suggestion of Thandie Newton is really inspired as well.

Thanks, everyone, for sharing your ideas! Now I almost want them to remake this, but people involved in the original say it's never going to happen, which is probably for the best. As for recasting, though, there was one list in which the actors fit the characters to a "T" and seem like they'd have a lot of chemistry as co-stars: Congrats to leeluvfashion!

To see who leeluvfashion picked, along with a new cast photo, read more

Every other Wednesday on BuzzSugar, I post a Recast challenge, where I ask you to choose new actors for a classic TV show or movie. The reader who submits the best cast wins a BuzzSugar t-shirt!

For this recast I challenge, I wanted to revisit the '80's hit movie Ghostbusters — the first one — directed by Ivan Reitman (father of Juno director Jason Reitman) and starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, and Sigourney Weaver.

If you could cast the movie for a remake (and let's face it, it's kinda likely these days) who would you pick to fill Bill Murray's shoes as the wisecracking leader of the bunch? Which popular nerdy actor could play the geeky Dr. Egon Spengler? Then there's Dan Aykroyd's Dr. Raymond Stantz (or, as his fellow 'busters call him, Ray), who is passionate but bumbling. Who would you cast as the fourth and most even-tempered of the gang, Winston Zeddmore, originally played by Ernie Hudson? And finally, there's the love interest: the beautiful and urbane Dana Barrett played by the great Ms. Weaver.

Leave your entry in the comment section below, and I'll pick one winner to feature Tuesday, April 15, complete with a "new" cast photo.

To see a list of characters to recast and a photo of the BuzzSugar t-shirt, read more

Motivated by the success of other classic movies-turned-video games (Scarface, The Godfather), Sony has inked a deal to make the campy Ghostbusters franchise into a video game. What's more, not only will all four of the main movie guys (Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Bill Murray, and Harold Ramis) and some of the supporting actors (William Atherton, Annie Potts) be lending their voices and likeness to the game, but Akroyd and Ramis will also be writing a story for it.

Aykroyd and Ramis' story will take place in the early '90s, after Ghostbusters II, "during a new ghoul invasion of New York City."

What other beloved '80s movies would make good video games? Personally, I'd love to see one for Adventures in Babysitting. What about you?