Like the RGB episode “X-Mas Marks the Spot”, what if Egon and Ray worked out a way to enter the Containment Unit with Egon volunteering himself in the name of science to go in, however is unable to get back out. He is still able to communicate through either an attached PC or readout monitor and they could possibly get in Egon’s voice actor from RGB if they need to have radio contact.
It would enable them to keep Egon “alive” in the movie but serve as a way of having to writing him out altogether.
If given a choice between Egon being dead and Egon being an eternal prisoner in his own creation, I think I’d rather take the peaceful end then the unbreakable cage.
Personally, I have no clue how they should handle Ramis’s death in continuity. There doesn’t seem to be a way to do it well.
I don’t think they should kill off Egon. He’s too big of a character to die off-screen, any story about how he died off-screen is bound to underwhelm, and if they just say he’s dead and don’t tell us how, the entire fandom will lynch them.
But, of course, keeping Egon alive is a tricky situation too, not just because Ramis obviously can’t be in the film. The whole idea of having something onscreen that’s meant to represent him, without it BEING him, but everyone’s acting like it’s him when we, the audience, know full well why… it’s kinda ghoulish. Because this guy was their friend, and here, incarnate, is the hole he left in their lives when he died.
I know they’ll do what they think is the best thing. They knew and loved Harold as a person, not just a personality. But I’m glad I’m not the one who has to decide.
I actually think they should have Egon as a ghost in the movie. See, his whole life was paranormal research, so any explanation they would give on why he’s not there would seem forced to me. It would be cool if maybe Janine or another character mentions rumors of one of the original GBs who passed away and still haunts the halls of the firehouse, continuing his research from beyond the grave. And then a later scene would show a PKE Meter lifting on its own and turning on, the readings going through the roof (since it’s reading Egon’s own psychokinetic energy). To me, that would do justice to the character.
I can’t see any manner of incorporating Egon in a tasteful way, at least not as a character. I can see them referencing his pacing, maybe as a catylist for bringing in the new blood. I don’t know, I would really prefer a third movie was not made. Especially now.
They might pull a Blues Brothers 2000 and just write his death into the story already. A Nice “Sorry to hear about Egon” whenever we see a familiar face walk into a scene.
Then that convinces Ray to help recruit the new team. Ray was always the heart, I think it’s a given that he’ll be the one revamping the franchise in this new story.
Although that all could crash the entire film into a burning wreck much like BB2000 did… But I’m just spit balling here!
I really think this is a situation where there’s no good answer.
I don’t want Egon to be dead. I’m sad enough that Ramis himself died, I don’t want to lose Egon as well.
I also don’t want Egon to be trapped in the containment unit, exploring another dimension, or any other excuse they might come up with why he wouldn’t be around.
I want Egon, and Ramis, alive and well and HERE. I can’t have that, so all I can do is hope that whatever they choose will feel right to the friends and family and people who loved him. A CGI ghost or whatever… it’s too creepy to think about.
I would hate to see Egon’s character die too. I feel they should just write him out as retiring to become a professor or researcher or something. Maybe he even opened a door to the spirit world and decided to stay there for long term study.
If they have to kill him I think maybe they could just say he finally succeeded in drilling a hole in his own head and it turned out that Venkman was right to stop him the first time.
Instead of a ghost what about he moved to somewhere be that the US or somewhere overseas to pursue his research or something along those lines. Of course that leaves an option open that he could show up which he cannot. There is no replacing Harold. In the same light have Peter either go one of three ways. He sold the rights to the name and became a Howard Hughes recluse millionaire, he became the Peck character completely turning his back on the GB and is trying to shut what is left of the team down (which he would more than likely have to appear which doesn’t seem at all likely), or Joel Murray is hired on as Peter’s brother (that being if Peter’s background mentions a brother). Those ideas on Peter had been rolling around in my mind for the last day or so. But as for Egon, I don’t think there is really a good way to handle him not being in the third film.
Ditto, I think that would work really well… Pay an homage to a well loved character, without feeling forced, and without having a need to digitize his presence or voice… and still give an impact…
If the movie is going to be made, they should reference Egon passing on. It’s the best way to handle it. But I don’t think they should make a third film at all.
One way or another, if a sequel is made his absence needs to be explained. I see him working at CERN, the major international particle physics project deep underground in Switzerland. Believable, real world stuff, Dr. Spengler being a lead scientist on the project. It gives a great way to keep him alive but explain his absence. I can see Ray saying ‘he only comes up from the lab to capture the relevant vitamin c from the sun that humans require. We don’t hear much from him anymore, he’s in his ball pool’, or something like that…
Greetings. I’m a new member / occasional board watcher. Figured I’d share my opinion, for what little authority it is, with a similar thought I had on the topic. Even though the world doesn’t need a Ghostbusters 3, I’d still be very intrigued to see it. So, my outline of how to maybe work GB3 with Harold’s unfortunate departure…
Any ‘New Recruits’ plot is only a route keen for making future films. A knack for big budget films these days is thinking too much in a future-franchise sense when they ought to be thinking of maximizing the best potential of entertainment with their present installment. But making dolla comes first in the business, so from the go, my idea is shot down. Hypothetically, if quality storytelling over money was an attribute of the Movie System, then I think it would be wise to keep this production ‘contained’. Keep it largely to original cast folk, and keep the plot ending with finality. A few new, talented faces would absolutely be nice, but in supporting roles only.
[PROLOGUE]
Yes, establish Spengler as having died from the very beginning of the film. By scientific accident in the quest for knowledge of the after life. Maybe he could have departed this world with every molecule in his body exploding at the speed of light? I’m sure clever storytelling could be employed to work around the physical loss of Ramis in establishing this.
Egon’s spirit is then pursued across the afterlife by the many angry ghosts he and the boys retired to the containment unit (cross-dimensional powers of Gozer allows minions to do this)? I almost see this happening without Egon even being in a recognizable human state. Perhaps some shape/beam of light like such seen floating around the New York skyline when the containment unit exploded in GB1. I even think of a ‘sperm race’ kind of image. Maybe these shapes have voices? Similar to, if memory serves right, the beginning of ‘Look Who’s Talking’. But I might be crazy. You can ignore some of the things I suggest. ANYWAY… Egon is overwhelmed by the evil spirits and brought before a throned Gozer. But with Egon’s now supreme knowledge of the other-side competition to the best there is (remember, he died in gaining this knowledge), he geniuses a way to absorb all the other evil spirits might, manipulating his own being to demi-god like status, becoming more powerful than Gozer now. But with unbeknownst side-effect… it turns Spengler evil. The scene could climax with Gozer taunting Egon -who is to this point playing his new-found power coy- asking him, “Are you are God?” Egon replies slyly, “Yes.” Proceeds to totally, and easily, obliterate Gozer - absorbs all of his/her power, too. Cue No-Ghost logo, theme song and main titles… our main villain for the film… EVILGON: The Most Powerful Spirit of Them All!
The above beats could be established very quickly, almost in montage?
[PROLOGUE ENDS]
Evilgon’s cross dimensional evil power is the threat throughout the rest of the story. His first point of contact to the world of the living is through Gozer’s old possessed pals… Dana and Louis (taking Moranis’s involvement for granted). The three remaining busters (taking Murray’s involvement for granted) are the main heroes of the piece. Incidentally, since GB2, Dana has again split from Venkman.
Insert your own ideas of remaining plot here, I’ve only got an opening and an ending. Maybe Evilgon’s physical appearance need only be a vague representation or an obscured likeness of Ramis… like when Vigo possessed Ray? A nice, brief scene would have Evilgon’s reign over New York to manifest as a monster in the shape of a 35 foot, 600-pound Twinkie.
The Busters have varied, multiple forms of transport outside of Ecto 1. Similar to the Ecto boat as in the video game, etc. Ecto hot air balloon? Maybe Ecto 1 isn’t used at all? (I’ll get to that later).
The climax of the film has Ray, Winston and Peter confront Evilgon. It is determined that they’ll have to cross the dimensions and do stuff on that side to restore harmony. ‘Someone ought to talk to it’ / ‘Someone’s got to go down there’ style of library ghost / subway tunnel hole encounter here - except played sincerely, not for laughs. Ultimately, they decide on not singling any one person out. All will cross over for their friend, a leap of faith that they can at least keep the doorway open to return. All show the same “See you on the other side” bravery that Venkman expressed in their showdown with Gozer from GB1.
They do their stuff, Evilgon becomes lovable old Egon / Egood again - and now, through enhanced archive footage or by marvel of other modern movie magic, Ramis’ likeness fully returns. Needn’t even say anything. Maybe just a quick shot of his face expressing that peculiar-but-great grin Harold occupied. Like the almost masochistic grin he had explaining Ivo Shandor to everyone else in the prison cell from GB1. Or the intrigued eyebrow ■■■■ when listening to
His Eminence. Some funny expression that is both hilarious and endearing of Ramis. Does he need to dissipate after this moment? Maybe. Who knows. It’s quite a Return of the Jedi image now that I think of it. Dana and Louis are, of course, returned to normal, too.
Ray, Winston and Peter go to return to the land of the living… Ray returns across the dimension barrier, as does Winston. Peter has an itching to do some goofy “And the flowers are still standing!” moment with some feature of the afterlife. Finished messing around, he too goes to cross back but… the door has just shut. Permanently. And thus Venkman is, per Murray’s request, now a ‘ghost’. He can communicate via some form of window still, but not cross back. He and Dana mutually agree across the gap that it never worked for them the first two times, and that their not being together now will be okay. Pete confirms it isn’t so bad in this new place. He hopes they have Pizza restaurants that Egon and him can enjoy there.
It so happens that Slimer had followed the busters across the dimensions earlier, and gets caught with Venkman permanently on the other side. Peter groans after the pizza restaurant remark when he finds out that his slimy foil is now stuck in there for eternity with him. Maybe some shape of re-enactment of their first sliming is how Slimer will close into credits for this one?
Optional fan service / franchise continuing ending (Slimer flies into camera/cut to black)… ‘five months later’ Ray rushes in on Winston… he has news just in from ‘Oscar’ in some other GB branch of a big job headed their way. “We’re gonna need back-up on this one.” He and Zeddemore pole down and suit up. And so does Louis… and so does Janine… and so -maybe- does Dana. They climb aboard the original Ecto 1 and rip out of the firehouse.
Thus we can entirely close on the original crew from this point on. If a GB4 were a go-ahead, they can pick right up with their entirely new cast of characters.
… Just my two cents. Thanks for reading, those that took the time.
Ray strikes a match, and lights a candle that sits next to Egon’s old PKE meter. The orange flame flickers in the musty room. Ray starts an antique record player, putting on a blues album. The music is slow and soft. He pours a whiskey bourbon into a glass, the amber water rattling the rocks before he pours a second. One glass is set before the candle, and Ray sits himself into an old armchair. The PKE meter faintly illuminates, giving but a trace of a read
Ray
To you old friend. Things haven’t been the same without you
Ray raises his glass in a toast
FADE OUT
Just handle Egon with subtlety, and respect. Just something small is all you need. The less said, the better in my opinion. Just a small memorial farewell, because we all feel it in a way
..this whole debate reminds me of the time I tried to watch Blues Brothers 2000 with a friend of mine. We both loved the first movie, and the sequel couldn’t possibly be THAT bad, could it?
Yes it could.
A thing my friend said about it is, “I know John Belushi is dead. I don’t want to know that JAKE BLUES is dead. That’s not what I want for those characters. In my head, after the first movie ended, they broke out of jail, went back on the road, and kept having adventures. This movie…gets it all wrong.”
I just don’t think you can win, and I’m glad I’m not the one who has to make the choice. I know Harold’s friends and loved-ones will do what feels right to them.