We all know that the state of the long-rumored, semi-awaited, controversial third Ghostbusters film is currently up in the air. Some people here have tried their hand at casting and plotting one, while most (for some reason) began fancasting reboots of the original movie. I for one decided to do an approach that would make a third film an aggregation of all that had come before that looks toward the future. Thus, here's my outline and cast for the third "Ghostbusters".
The title would be called "Ghostbusters III: Hell Breaks Loose", and would be the final chapter in the film series (the heck with the trend of endless sequel after sequel!!!). The humor that defined the original film would be kept, yet updated (though not bordering on crude). Portions of the movie (mainly the ghosts/monsters) would be done in CGI, and the script/screenplay done by Harold Ramis, Tina Fey, and Judd Apatow, but would use some elements of the plot behind "Extreme Ghostbusters" (please don't come after me as an angry mob!) and "Ghostbusters: The Video Game", along with some of the bits mentioned by Dan Akroyd in a 2008 interview. There'd also be a cameo at the end of the movie by Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd and Ernie Hudson in a scene similar to the end scene from the 2003 "Starsky and Hutch" movie. Plus--the uniforms get minor updates.
Taking place nearly 20 years after the events of Ghostbusters II, we find that (contrary to the continuity of The Real Ghostbusters cartoon and Extreme Ghostbusters) paranormal activity in New York has dwindled. The Ghostbusters eventually shut the business down, and each went their separate ways. Egon (along with Slimer) uses the firehouse as his home, and teaches parapsychology over at Columbia University--ironically, the same institution where he, Peter Venkman, and Ray Stantz were originally thrown out of. Assisted by graduate student Ilyssa Selwyn, his only students consist of sophomore Kylie Griffin, junior Garrett Miller, and seniors Roland Jackson and Eduardo Rivera. Meanwhile, when two graverobbers at the local cemetery accidentally disturb an old shrine (resulting in age-old seals crumbling to dust), the ancient demoness Achira is released, with plans on releasing the many souls of the wicked upon the Earth by opening a gate located at the heart of Times Square. When Egon, learning of her release via the monitors in the firehouse coming back online after no detection of supernatural activity for so long, fails to convince Mayor Walter Peck (who had assumed office in-between the time of the team's disbandment and now) of the impending threat, he ends up having to call on his students (along with godson Oscar Barrett) to take on Achira and her army of the damned.
For our cast, we have the following:
The Old Guard
Harold Ramis as Dr. Egon Spengler
There's just no replacing Ramis--he defined Egon, and here he'd do great as Egon in a mentor role. Egon serves as the Chief of the newly-reformed Ghostbusters, and for all his intellect, he still feels doubt over recruiting his students to put their lives on the line.
Annie Potts as Janine Melnitz-Tully
The same applies to Potts here. Janine, during the interim years, married Louis Tully, and became a top accountant. Despite that prestige, she misses the excitement that came with working for the Ghostbusters, and when Egon reopens the business, she answers the call faster than one trades a share on Wall Street.
Rick Moranis as Louis Tully
Hopefully, Moranis would be easy to negotiate with (I have a copy of "Effective Negotiating" by Dr. Chester L. Karrass, just in case). Louis, in the interim years, began to build up his confidence and self-esteem (with a little help from a series of cassette tapes he ordered), and is now a successful (and honest) lawyer; he also managed to find the guts to ask Janine to marry him. He gets called on by Egon to defend the Ghostbusters in a lawsuit carried out against them by Mayor Peck.
The New Blood
Alyssa Milano as Dr. Ilyssa Selwyn
I included Selwyn because I'd feel she'd be a good addition to the dynamic of the team. Her background from the videogame would be retained (some elements of it, that is), but here in the film, she'd be a graduate student hired by Egon to be his assistant, her having impressed him with her academic prowess and her fascination with the Ghostbusters' encounter with Gozer back in 1984--and the research they did. When Egon starts the business back up, he appoints her to be the field leader of the team. She also develops feelings for Oscar as the film progresses.
Nina Dobrev as Kylie Griffin
For picking Dobrev, I was inspired by her role on "The Vampire Diaries" and a guest spot she did on "The Super Hero Squad Show". I thought she would be killer as Kylie, who would retain a lot of her background, but have a more sardonic sense of humor. She nearly becomes a pawn of Achira in the middle of the film. She also is the love interest of Garrett (contrasted with Eduardo in the Extreme Ghostbusters tv show).
Josh Hutcherson as Garrett Miller
I think Hutcherson could do a great job of portraying Garrett's arrogance and cockiness while masking his feelings about his paralysis. He also develops feelings for Kylie throughout the film.
Mos Def as Roland Jackson
I picked Def as a nod to his role in "Be Kind Rewind" (a movie I loved, and wished had gotten a little more attention), and thought he'd do great as the hard-working, self-sacrificing Ghostbuster. In the movie, he'd start out as the moderate skeptic of the team, until a brush with Slimer convinces him otherwise.
Jay Hernandez as Eduardo Rivera
Hernandez I'm sure could pull off Eduardo. Eduardo would also be a bit of a skeptic at the start of the film, and develops a bit of a "Bud n' Lou" camaraderie with Slimer.
Topher Grace as Oscar Barrett
I picked Grace as he can be funny at times, and to me he looks like a grown-up Oscar. Oscar, who Dana made the godson of all four GB's, is a recent graduate of Columbia with a Masters in Folklore and Mythology, and works as assistant librarian at the New York Public Library. He gets called in by Egon, as it's revealed that his encounter with Vigo the Carpathian (during the events of Ghostbusters II) left him with a sort of "Sixth sense" that allows him to sense the presence of ghosts (similar to Kuwabara in Yu Yu Hakusho), making him a walking PKE meter in case one of them conks out. He develops feelings for Ilyssa as the movie progresses, and they become a couple by the end of the film. He's a bit of the Peter of the group (then again, so's Eduardo)--but ONLY a bit. He says Dana sends her regards at one point in the movie.
The Antagonists
William Atherton as Mayor Walter Peck
It wouldn't be a Ghostbusters movie without this guy, now would it? Basically, in the time between now and Ghostbusters II, Peck runs for the office of the Mayor of New York to ensure that there are no more (what he sees as) Ghostbusters-related fiascoes (both for environmental reasons and, because even after being covered in ghostly marshmallow goop he still doesn't believe in ghosts). He succeeds, and takes the team to court, giving them the option of either admitting to a charge of massive fraud (for which he brings a ton of evidence) or facing jail time. They opt for neither, and force themselves into retirement (similar to how the Justice Society of America disbanded). In the film, when Peck gets word of the Ghostbusters' reformation, he brings them to court via a lawsuit for damages--only to be defeated by Louis Tully, who reveals that Peck HIMSELF used fake evidence back in the original court case to cheat, which causes his impeachment towards the end of the movie.
Susan Sarandon as Achira
For picking Sarandon, I was inspired by the role she played in "Enchanted". All you have to do is amplify the creepy factor and she'd do great as this re-interpreted version of the first villain from Extreme Ghostbusters. Instead of a harbinger of disease, Achira here would be a vassal whose purpose is to unlock the Gate of the Underworld (now located under the heart of Times Square) and release the entirety of the souls of the doomed and wicked upon the face of the Earth. She'd bring with her a menagerie of ghouls, ghosts, and all manner of poltergeist to wreak havoc and pave the way for her opening of the gate.
Now tell me people: you ain't afraid of this fancast, are you?