New Ghostbusters Movies News: Sony Plans Cinematic Universe for 'Ghostbusters'
After hyping an all-female cast for the new "Ghostbuster" movie due next year, Sony Pictures has announced its plan to expand the new film not only to the franchise level but the cinematic universe as well.
Aiming for something like a Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sony has put together Ghost Corps, hiring original "Ghostbusters" Director Ivan Reitman as well as its co-creator and star Dan Aykroyd to oversee the film's move into television and merchandising.
Reitman and Aykroyd were also tasked to develop a new male-oriented "Ghostbusters," which will be released after the premier of the all-female "Ghostbusters" film due for launch in July 2016.
Directed by Paul Feig, the new "Ghostbusters" will star Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy alongside Saturday Night Live (SNL) regulars Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones in the four lead roles, who are set to begin filming this summer.
Aykroyd, who co-wrote and starred in 1984's "Ghostbusters" and the 1989 sequel "Ghostbusters II," hinted at the continuing existence of an all-male Ghostbusters film in an interview last month, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The actor, who spent several fruitless years trying to convince original co-star Bill Murray to reprise his role as Peter Venkman in a belated sequel, said he hoped success for the much-hyped Feig production might help spark his own movie into life.
"Captain America: The Winter Soldier" filmmakers Joe and Anthony Russo are set to direct while Drew Pearce of "Iron Man 3" will write the screenplay for the new, all-male alternative.
The Russos, who both signed a first-look deal with Sony last week, were also tapped to produce the film with actor Channing Tatum and his partners Reid Carolin and Peter Kiernan.
The studio also hoped to get Tatum, a Sony favorite after the release of his successful "22 Jump Street," to lead the all-male "Ghostbusters" film despite his busy schedule.
According to Variety, the film is still in its very early stages, with The Hollywood Reporter describing the envisioned cinematic universe to be nebulous.
Sony is one of the studios less franchise-rich than the others, such as Disney or Warner Bros. or even Paramount, which is cranking out Transformers and G.I. Joe movies.