Harold Ramis, the beloved comic actor and screenwriter who passed away Monday, will still be cast in “Ghostbusters III,” according to his publicist.
“All of us are grieving at the loss of such a great talent and even greater human,” said Mary Barrett. “And many of you are also grieving for the loss of being able to enjoy a third ‘Ghostbusters’ starring Mr. Ramis and the original cast.”
“Grieve not,” Barrett said. “Mr. Ramis will still play an important role in ‘Ghostbusters III.’ It’s not been decided if he will reprise the role of Egon, or if he will play another character, such as a fun-loving spectre covered in ectoplasm, but he will be there. I can assure you of that.”
Ramis broke into film acting with the role of Russell Ziskey in the 1981 hit comedy “Stripes,” but he shot to stardom when he played the brainy, taciturn scientist Dr. Egon Spengler in the 1984 blockbuster “Ghostbusters,” which he co-wrote with fellow star Dan Aykroyd. In 1989, he starred in “Ghostbusters II,” but it was largely panned by critics.
In the following 25 years, rumors swirled that Aykroyd had studio support for a third installation and was pressing other members of the original cast to join the project. Bill Murray, who played Peter Venkman in the first two parts, had famously been dragging his feet, and he allegedly tore up a script that had been given for his approval.
However, recent changes in the script apparently won Murray’s approval and shooting is to begin later this year, albeit with plot modifications.