It's official: original Ghostbusters star Bill Murray will reprise his role as Dr. Peter Venkman in the upcoming sequel, Ghostbusters 2020.
Fellow Ghostbusters veteran Dan Aykroyd confirmed Murray's return on The Greg Hill Show. While it always seemed likely Murray would return to his iconic role for the new film, this is the first time we've gotten actual confirmation. In addition to Murray and Aykroyd, original Ghostbusters stars Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts have also been confirmed to return.
That being said, it is unclear exactly how much screen time Murray and the rest of the old guard will receive, as 2020 appears set to focus on a brand-new, younger team of Ghostbusters. While it is the fourth Ghostbusters film overall -- following the 2016 reboot -- 2020 is being treated as the third film in the original series, serving as a direct sequel to 1984's Ghostbusters and 1989's Ghostbusters II.
The original leader of the titular team of spirit-hunting New Yorkers, Murray starred as Dr. Venkman in both Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II. He subsequently reprised his role for 2009's Ghostbusters: The Video Game. Murray also made a cameo as the character Martin Heiss in 2016's Ghostbusters. Ghostbusters 2020 marks his first time playing Venkman in live-action since 1989.
Ghostbusters 2020 is directed by Jason Reitman, who also co-wrote the film with Gil Kenan. The film stars Finn Wolfhard, Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd and Mckenna Grace. The film is scheduled for release on July 10, 2020.
(via Full Circle Cinema)