Hollywood is filled with big-budget franchises, and Bill Murray’s iconic Ghostbusters movies are a few of them. Starting in 1984, the American supernatural comedy flick about three parapsychologists forced out of their university, was one of the most renowned franchises of that time.
Actor Bill Murray was one of the important individuals behind the iconic franchise, who helped launch Ghostbusters to prominence. However, after doing the first two movies, Murray desperately wanted to leave the franchise. He confided that he’d only return for another Ghostbusters film under one condition.
Bill Murray Wanted To Leave The Ghostbusters Franchise
Bill Murray has been part and parcel of the Ghostbusters franchise, since its inception in 1984. However, for years director Ivan Reitman tried to get the actor to commit to a third installment. This process even turned into one of the reasons why it took a while for the franchise to get a sequel to its second installment.
Apparently, Bill Murray was desperate to leave the beloved franchise, despite being a crucial part of it. Playing the role of Peter Venkman, although Murray stole hearts, the actor was done with the franchise. Therefore he had been refusing to be a part of the third installment. But since everyone was desperate to see him onscreen, Ivan Reitman approached the actor.
But Bill Murray was adamant about not returning to the franchise. However, seeing the Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman‘s desperation, Murray finally admitted to being a part of the movie, but half-heartedly, under one condition. He must be killed off.
Bill Murray Returned For The Third Movie Under One Condition
Delaying the third installment of the Ghostbusters franchise since the 1980s, Bill Murray eventually accepted to return to the franchise, but at what cost? Initially, when the sequel was pitched, there was still hope for Murray to reprise his role. But then with the significant delay, the director decided to focus on Murray and Sigourney Weaver’s fictional child.
“Bill and Sigourney’s kid, Oscar, is a postgrad student, and weird things start to happen. Bill Murray dies in the first scene, because he always said, ‘I won’t do it unless I die.’ And I said, ‘Okay, you got it.’ It was a father-son story, with him as a ghost. By the way, the studio green-lit it.” Ivan Reitman told Vulture.
But then with Harold Ramis getting sick, Ivan Reitman’s idea went in vain. The project went to Paul Feig and became more of a rebooted movie, with Murray almost losing his interest in it. But eventually, although the actor didn’t return as Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters (2016) he made a brief cameo as Martin Heiss, because of his friendships with Melissa McCarthy and Kate McKinnon.
However, although the actor previously refused to be a part of the franchise, he reprised his role in the 2021 sequel Ghostbusters: Afterlife. The fourth installment of the franchise was everything Bill Murray wanted in a Ghostbusters script. The actor therefore returned as a ghost alongside the OG cast Dan Aykroyd, in Ivan Reitman’s son, Jason Reitman-directed sequel.
