Update! Gene Stupnitsky says the script in question is fake.
In 2008, Sony hired Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg, writers from NBC's The Office, to pen a script for Ghostbusters 3. In 2013, Dan Aykroyd praised the script for its humor and it appeared Sony was close to giving it the greenlight even without Bill Murray's participation. But in the beginning of 2014, Harold Ramis suddenly passed away and Sony became concerned about having a third film with only two of the original Ghostbusters. They decided to go in a completely different direction by hiring Paul Feig ("Bridesmaids") to direct a female led Ghostbusters reboot. Even though
Ghostbusters 3 will never happen we can now see what might have been.
A second draft of Stupnitsky and Eisenberg's
Ghostbusters 3 script, written in 2009, has leaked and
Bloody-Disgusting has written a detailed review of it. Keep in mind, when it was written the screenwriters included Bill Murray's character 'Peter Venkman,' not knowing he would later pass on it.
The story begins with an apparition, "with long arms and legs and no face," attacking two security guards at a museum. Next is a commercial that reveals that the
Ghostbusters company has become a corporation run by CEO, Todd Prendaghast. He's an unlikable guy that "
keeps Slimer in a glass-walled containment unit as a trophy."
We later find out that Dr. Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) and Dr. Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) used to run the
Ghostbusters company but they were removed from power when they destroyed the Triborough Bridge while trying to capture an entity. They still work for the company but they've been demoted to "first responders." They work alongside Oscar Barrett, the son of Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver). Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) also works for the company, but as a mechanic.Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) on the other hand is now the mayor of New York City. He won his election based on an
anti-Ghostbusters campaign. This didn't sit well with Ray and Egon, and they no longer have contact with Venkman. They're former receptionist
Janine Melnitz (Annie Potts) is now Venkman's "secretary and chief advisor."
The old team is brought together by the escalation of incidents involving the apparition ("Class-5 Cross-Dimensional Snatcher") first shown at the museum.
Remember “Tobin’s Spirit Guide”? It’s the book referenced in the first Ghostbusters while they were researching Zuul. Here Ray uses it to conclude that the slender man spirit is WOLFRAM VON GRAUEN, one of the head architects of the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893. Hundreds of people vanished during the fair, possibly sacrificed in the basement of a building Von Grauen owned. The vile man was eventually thrown in an insane asylum on Staten Island. His belongings were auctioned off by the police and now his spirit is being drawn to them.
Mayor Venkman forces Prendaghast to step down from his position and has Egon and Ray put back in charge as a reward for figuring out the identity of the evil spirit. A montage follows showing the Ecto-1 back on the road and Ray releasing Slimer from his prison. They then fire all of the current
Ghostbusters, except for Oscar, and bring in three new recruits.
Their mission is to retreive "Von Grauen’s cursed items." During it, Von Grauen's power summons a giant octopus-like creature from the ocean, which is referred to as an "Elder God." This leads to the final act.
The epic final battle sees the national guard, NYPD, recently fired employees of Ghosbusters, Inc., and the guys all blowing away at the immense creature. The NYC skies are lit up with gunfire and proton beams. They manage to slow the behemoth down, but the only way to stop it…you guessed it.
They have to cross the streams. Knowing that it could kill them, Venkman makes the first selfless act he’s made in years and takes Oscar’s place. Even that bastard Todd steps up to lay his life down for the city. They manage to lure the creature to a prime spot near a skyscraper. There, the guys take one final sentimental look at one another and light it up. A bright white super beam plows into the creature and his guts and bile rain down on the city. They’ve slain the beast and saved the city once again. Only this time it cost them their lives.
Cut to an undisclosed time in the near future. Ghostbusters, Inc. is going stronger than ever, with Winston in a high-paying position. Oscar is still working there as well. One night, Janine is working late and as she’s walking down the hall, she comes across the ghosts of Venkman, Ray, and Egon playing cards…
What do you think?
I did a bit of digging and came across a link for this
leaked Ghostbusters 3 script (click here), which was posted on the website scaretissue.com.