Harold Ramis on Cash-In Sequels: 'No One Wants to Do That'

With the passing this week of legendary comedy writer and director Harold Ramis, who also starred in a number of films, the door seemed to shut a little tighter on any possibility of a third Ghostbusters movie. As one half of the writing team which conceived the original concept, Ramis may have been essential to the property’s continuation.

Rumors of a new film in the paranormal exterminator franchise have haunted fans for years. In the above clip, Ramis addresses some of the challenges which held up production.

Perhaps the most compelling reason not to make another Ghostbusters film was not having a story worth telling. Here’s Ramis on the prospect:

We could do anything and, you know, we’d all make some money probably. But no one wants to do that. We don’t need the work. We don’t need to do it. The public, if they only had two Ghostbusters, we’d all be fine. The world would not end.

In the interview, Ramis cited Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull as an example of a film which took a franchise off its rails.

… although I read online that Harrison Ford made 65 million dollars from [the film].

Ford may not have needed the money either. But perhaps the prospect of squeezing in one last turn as the globe-trotting tomb raider was a value in and of itself.

In the event the Ghostbusters ever return to the big screen, here’s hoping they’ll deliver on character, story, and humor. Ramis would have wanted it that way.