Columbia is seriously pursuing a new installment of its GHOSTBUSTERS franchise, per VARIETY.
They have hired THE OFFICE co-exec producers Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitzky to pen a script for a new film that would bring back the original cast -- minus the retired Rick Moranis -- of Harold Ramis, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson.
Columbia refused comment on development of a new film.
Eisenberg and Stupnitzky recently wrote YEAR ONE, a comedy directed by Ramis. Ramis with Aykroyd wrote the first two GHOSTBUSTERS films. Ivan Reitman directed the 1984 original and the 1989 sequel.
GHOSTBUSTERS was Columbia's highest-grossing film for 13 years, until 1997's MEN IN BLACK, with SPIDER-MAN taking the crown in 2002.
Attempts to make a third film have been stalled in the dealmaking stage, as so much gross was pledged to participants that it would be next to impossible for Columbia to make money. The studio will wait until a script is ready before making deals with the original cast, but gross percentage will be a big factor. Sony's policy is to not allow more than 25 percent of the first dollar gross out the door.
Eisenberg and Stupnitzky are Emmy-nominated for their writing on THE OFFICE and have another film at Columbia, having sold their spec script BAD TEACHER to the studio with Jimmy Miler producing.
