Even as Sony is moving forward with a new Ghostbusters movie staring an all-female cast as the ghost-catching team, they are also planning male-led edition starring Channing Tatum (Magic Mike), to be directed by the Russo Brothers (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), according to Deadline.
Sony is assembling a team that will match the Russo Brothers up with the director of the 1984 original, Ivan Reitman, as well as one of its writers and stars in Dan Akroyd. Reitman and Akroyd have also been recruited by the studio to form Ghostcorps, a production company that will produce the new movie and also develop additional projects to capitalize on the Ghostbusters brand. Akroyd has been pitching a story for some time now and it looks like Sony is finally making the project a reality. Tatum is also producing the movie and the plan is to have him play one of the team members. The script will be written by Drew Pearce (Iron Man 3).
Reitman told Deadline that this is part of a larger plan to create new universe and franchise that will start with the previously announced Paul Feig-directed film.
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,” Reitman told me. “This is a branded entertainment, a scary supernatural premise mixed with comedy.
The Russo brothers are currently set to direct Captain America: Civil War and are reportedly in talks to direct the third and fourth Avengers movies. All this will come into play when firming up a production schedule for this new film.
It’s extremely rare for a studio to simultaneously develop two movies that are part of the same franchise. Of course the Marvel Cinematic Universe is constantly in development with multiple characters, which looks like it will be the blueprint for this new franchise. It does bear noting however that the Ghostbusters universe has been built from scratch whereas the Marvel Universe is based on a previously established brand.
Paul Feig’s all-female Ghostbusters movie is set to start production this summer.
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