Why worry? Each one of us is carrying an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on his back.

Like most any other child of my generation I grew up on the 1984 classic, "Ghost Busters." Since about the age of five it's a film that has never failed to make me laugh and ever since then I've thought that Bill Murray is pretty much the funniest person who's ever lived. "Ghostbusters 2," while not a classic is a much better movie than people give it credit for.
For awhile now it's been known that a third installment is on its way. At this point all that really seems to be known is that the screenplay will be written by Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, who've written a number of episodes of the American "Office." The storyline seems to be that 25 years after first going into action, the guys are training the new team. This article from Empire (the absolute best film magazine in existence) features one man's opinion regarding the potential cast. No matter what you think of his other suggestions, you have to agree that he's right on about Paul Rudd.

Who Ya Gonna Call?
Posted on Tuesday March 24, 2009, 17:46 by Nick de Semlyen

Like it or not, a new Ghostbusters movie is marching towards us like a giant, sailor-suited mallow-bastard from another dimension. At this point, all we have to go on is hearsay, rumours and evidence drawn from ouija-board seances, but it seems likely that GB3 will see the old gang training youngsters in the ways of the proton pack. “A big element is passing the torch onto a new generation of Ghostbusters,” Dan Aykroyd said recently. “It’s going to be Harold and me and Billy and Ernie training the new ones.”

This got me thinking. Who, if I had similar supernatural powers to Viggo (scourge of Carpathia, sorrow of Moldavia) and could manipulate the mind of Aykroyd and co., would I pick to fill the roles of this “new generation”? Here are my ideas; if you think I’ve got it completely wrong or have overlooked the perfect potential ‘Buster, leave a comment below. No this-man-has-no-dick insults, if you please.

Tracy Morgan
As any 30 Rock fan knows, Morgan perches right on the border between “loveably quirky” and “absolutely batshit demented”. He’s hilariously volatile and unpredictable enough when playing deluded TV star Tracy Jordan —give the man a piece of nuclear accelerative machinery that could potentially end the universe and you have guaranteed quality mayhem. Later this year he’s making his jump to the big screen by buddying up with Bruce Willis in Kevin Smith’s action comedy A Couple Of Dicks, so Ghostbusters 3 would be the perfect follow-up and vehicle for his livewire antics.

John Krasinski
Another TV star, this time from the American version of The Office. I see Krasinski playing the straight man to the madness, much as Bill Murray’s Peter Venkman used to deflate the earnest pronouncements of Ray and Egon with acid one-liners. Like Morgan, he’s an actor who’s loved by plenty of small-screen viewers but hasn’t had proper exposure at the multiplex. Something that might give him an advantage here is the fact that the writers of The Office are penning the Ghostbusters 3 script.

Paul Rudd
Judd Apatow’s production company has been linked to the new Ghostbusters sequel, though details remain fuzzy. If the modern-day Master of Mirth does prove to be involved, can we expect to see members of his repertory in major roles? Very possibly — Seth Rogen, Steve Carell, Jonah Hill or even Will Ferrell could end up holding the keys to the Ecto-Containment Unit, in the process irritating the hell out of one of Walter Peck’s descendants. We may even see McLovin as Egon Jr. But more than any of those, I’d like to see Paul Rudd taking on unruly spectres. He’s cool, sly, likeable and — crucially — was born in New Jersey, not too far from NY City. In my opinion, a New York attitude is a crucial part of the DNA of any potential ‘Buster.

Tiny Fey
And talking of which, who’s more New York than Fey? Adding a lady to the team would really shake things up, and this one has all the necessary attributes (biting sarcasm, an adorable nerdiness, Rick Moranis specs) to bring the Ghostbusters into the 21st century. She’s also an alumnus of Saturday Night Live, the show which three decades ago gave Aykroyd and Murray their big break.

Shia LaBeouf
We saw glimpses of his comedy chops in Transformers, so we’re guessing he’d be game for a properly silly film. Plus he’s used to interacting with CG creations, of which we’re sure there will be many in this movie, possesses a laidback scrappiness, and has the experience to hold his own against the older generation.

So now that the British man from the magazine has had his say, I'm going to throw my hat into the ring.

So I'll start off with another couple of names mentioned in the article, Seth Rogen and Jason Segel. While we're at it, why not just go total "Freaks and Geeks" and add James Franco to the mix. This isn't just another Apatow crew idea as I see it. If you're going to do another "Ghostbusters" it should be made by people who understand what made the first two work and how to carry that spirit on yet bring something new and truly funny to the table. These guys, along with Rudd, are just the sort of guys who would get it. And I would love to see those four on screen with Murray and co.

British Ghostbusters? Why not?

Speaking of people who'd get it, how about Simon Pegg and Nick Frost? Anyone who's seen "Shaun of the Dead" or "Hot Fuzz" knows that these two know their way around blending comedy with genres not typically known for being funny, such as zombie films, cop movies, or...paranormal thrillers? And as long as I'm suggesting Pegg and Frost I really think that Edgar Wright is the man to direct this, regardless of who is cast. I think even more than Ivan Reitman (whose recent track record hasn't been that stellar), Wright could make this work better than any other director in the world today.
Finally, if we're going to have some red coats on the new team I have to suggest a place for the funniest person in the world today, Ricky Gervais. Maybe not as one of the crew, but maybe their publicist or the guy who answers the phones. Just putting him in something in any capacity would automatically make it at least 37 percent funnier.

Other names just floating into my brain this Saturday morning:

Sam Rockwell - An actor with more range than most anyone else out there today, Rockwell's proven he can do this sort of thing (see "Galaxy Quest"). I think he'd look right at home carrying a proton pack.

Will Smith - I'm surprised I haven't heard anyone else mention him as a possibility. When it comes to action/sci-fi/comedy, he's kind of been top of the heap the last decade or so. Or maybe it's just too obvious. I'd be concerned about the studio wanting to turn it into another "Will Smith vehicle" but I think the man knows how to play well with others better than people give him credit for.

John C. Reilly - Come on. It would be awesome.

Michael Cera - You simply cannot talk comedy right now and not have George Michael Bluth come to mind. Here's another guy who I think would truly get it.

Well, that's about all I've got right now. But I'd love to hear who you'd like to see take up the Ghostbusting mantle or if you even think making a third entry is a good idea at all. But "like it or not," it's on its way and I will most definitely be in line when it comes out.