We’ve known about Paul Feig’s newest iteration of Ghostbusters for a while, but today’s news just blew the trap wide open. According to Deadline, Sony has established a new division of their company called Ghostcorps that will focus specifically on creating a whole bunch of Ghostbusters related media, including a male counterpart to Feig’s film. Drew Pierce (Iron Man Three) will be scripting (!), the Russo brothers will be directing (!!) and Channing Tatum will star (!!!). Dan Aykroyd and Ivan Reitman will be heading up Ghostcorps, and Reitman had this to say:
“We want to expand the Ghostbusters universe in ways that will include different films, TV shows, merchandise, all things that are part of modern filmed entertainment. This is a branded entertainment, a scary supernatural premise mixed with comedy. Paul Feig’s film will be the first version of that, shooting in June to come out in July, 2016. He’s got four of the funniest women in the world, and there will be other surprises to come. The second film has a wonderful idea that builds on that. Drew will start writing and the hope is to be ready for the Russo Brothers’ next window next summer to shoot, with the movie coming out the following year. It’s just the beginning of what I hope will be a lot of wonderful movies.”
This is a pretty big deal. I can’t say I’m excited about it, but I am deathly intrigued. We’re really seeing how the Marvel model is completely changing the movie landscape, even if its with an intellectual property that only has one worthwhile entry. Could all of this work out? Absolutely, but I’m not going to hold my breath. There’s nothing but talent behind all of these announced projects, but it’s gonna be an uphill battle when you have to get compared to the original film.
Discuss, Chewers. Are you happy that every successful property is going to get the Marvel/Star Wars cultural inundation treatment?