Dan Aykroyd Speaks Up About 'Ghostbusters 3': Production Beginning In 2013 With New Writers, Definitely No Bill Murray

The long-rumored "Ghostbusters 3" is actually entering production next year, quashing recent suspicions that the movie was one again being placed on hold. In an interview with Metro, writer and actor Dan Aykroyd said that he was "confident" production will finally begin on the film that seemed to be quickly entering into development hell:

Is Ghostbusters 3 finally happening?

Yes, we've got a brilliant new writer on it and we'll be passing the torch on to a new generation. We're working on it to make it just right to satisfy our fans. I'm confident we'll be in production in the next year.

It's been a long process, hasn't it?

Yes, but now we've got the studio on side. We've tried a few concepts which weren't right but now we've got a good structure and will make it happen.

How much of a "Ghostbusters" movie it will truly be, however, is unclear. Aykroyd went on to say that Bill Murry was definitely not going to be involved in the film in any way, confirming once again that the celebrated comedian and actor's deep-seated artistic differences are keeping him away from the new film. But Aykroyed even questioned the stamp of authorship that he would have on the new movie without the original trio in place. "It's sad but we're passing it on to a new generation," he said. Ghostbusters 3 can be a successful movie without Bill. My preference would be to have him involved but at this point he doesn't seem to be coming and we have to move on. It's time to make the third one."

News of a new writing team comes after Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg, both producers and writers of the comedy series "The Office," were reported to be working on a script as far back as 2010. The National Enquirer, always a source of colorful and dubiously reported, celebrity controversies, alleged that Murray later tore their script to shreds, saying in a note: "No-one wants to pay money to see fat, old men chasing ghosts." Aykroyed later denied these rumors in an interview with Empire magazine, saying that "Bill Murray is not capable of such behaviour."

Who is involved in the new writing duties remains unclear.

Listen to the original "Ghostbusters" theme song below.