Ghostbusters 3

The star says he still loves the franchise and the people who made it.

There’s one reason and one reason only why we’re getting a Ghostbusters remake in 2016 instead of an actual Ghostbusters 3 five years ago. That reason is named Bill Murray and he’s been the not-so-secret sequel roadblock for as long as we can remember. But then he accepted a small role in the new reboot, because he’s Bill Murray and Bill Murray does whatever he wants. Sometimes that means randomly showing up at your birthday party. Sometimes that means popping up in a film franchise that he seemingly had zero desire to revisit. Now, Murray explains his reasons for joining a new Ghostbusters movie he was so vocally against.

When it was revealed that director Paul Feig was going to reboot Ghostbusters with an all-female cast, the general assumption was that Ghostbusters 3 was dead and buried. Gone forever. Kaput. Never to be mentioned again. But, Dan Aykroyd never got that memo. Aykroyd, who co-wrote and starred in the original films, has spent years talking up Ghostbusters 3 and he’s not going to let silly little things like an actual, official, studio-sanctioned remake with a cast and release date get in the way.

After months of rumors and speculation, it looks like director Paul Feig is finally starting to assemble his cast for his ‘Ghostbusters’ reboot. The name at the top of his list should surprise no one: Melissa McCarthy, who he previously directed to an Oscar nomination and huge box office success in ‘Bridesmaids’ and ‘The Heat,' and who is in early talks to star in the film.

And this month in "Dan Aykroyd doesn't know when to quit," the actor assures us that 'Ghostbusters 3' is still happening and it's totally shooting in 2014 -- for real, you guys! Guys? Are you still there?

In news that should come as a surprise to no one, ever, 'Ghostbusters 3' has been delayed yet again. So this movie is just a joke to everyone at this point, right?

If you still had any hope left for ‘Ghostbusters 3,’ feel free to casually discard it now: Bill Murray is officially, definitely no longer appearing in the film. It’s been a long and dramatic journey for this dying horse, but it’s safe to say maybe we should let it go with dignity now? Not so fast — the film will go on without Murray.