'Ghostbusters 3' Casting Rumors

While Ghostbusters 3 is still in the will-it-ever-get-made phase, it seems there's news that's always pushing it towards the "will be made" end of the spectrum. Despite Bill Murray's objections to making a new Ghostbusters film, it's also been rumored that Dan Aykroyd is reworking the script and that Sony was hoping for a 2011 start date. But now, to go with all these items we've talked about at one time or another, we now have some potential casting news to go with them.

The first (and most likely) casting is of Anna Faris, and I...

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'Private Benjamin' Remake Recruits Anna Faris

Does Private Benjamin need a remake? No. Does Anna Faris need a comedic role with a little more weight to it? Yes. I do wish it weren't being propped up by New Line, but it's better than the studio's Police Academy update.

Faris is actually well-suited for this project, and can carry a comedy almost completely on her own. She's even been good in bad comedies, and unfortunately, that represents the bulk of her work to this point. She does have a higher profile now, so that's nice, but the roles just aren't very challenging yet. Private Benjamin was a big hit back in 1980, and it gave Goldie Hawn and Eileen Brennan Oscar nominations. That was a big year for the ladies, actually: 9 to 5 - which could also be updated - and Coal Miner's Daughter joined Benjamin in the top ten of the year-end box office. I would say that's rare.

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Anna Faris, Ryan Reynolds to Star in 'TMI'

Ryan Reynolds and Anna Faris have been signed up for the romantic comedy TMI, a title I hate, but whatever. It might be the easiest title to give a comedy about having too much truth in a relationship, so that's understandable, but on the surface, it's roughly the same as naming a movie Talk to the Hand or (Implied Fist Bump).

Reynolds recently spoofed his romantic comedy transgressions while hosting Saturday Night Live, although he co-starred in the year's biggest romcom, The Proposal, which wasn't as bad as most flicks in the genre. That was based in large part on Reynolds and more to the point, his chemistry with Sandra Bullock.

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Aykroyd, Faris, JT in Talks for 'Yogi Bear'

If these things lived in a vacuum, it might be a different story. On its own, there's nothing wrong or inherently evil about making a movie based on The Flintstones or Scooby Doo or even Rocky & Bullwinkle. But when you add them all up (and pay attention to the success rate), you start to get a bad taste in your mouth. That's probably why I was so opposed to this update initially.

I enjoyed Yogi Bear as a kid, although it wasn't an all-time favorite. And because it has a big presence in the pop culture firmament, a movie version isn't a stretch. It just seems that way since we've been inundated by so many of them already. Entertainment Weekly has some casting updates, and I'm not really thrilled about those, either.

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'Scary Movie 5'...Because the Fourth One Sold Tickets

The Weinstein Company wants one for the thumb. According to Cinema Blend, we're in the early stages of development on Scary Movie 5, which will be a reboot rather than a continuation of...well...what's the difference, really?

For the cash-strapped Weinstein Company, it's like selling Girl Scout cookies: You know people will buy, no matter how bad it is for you. The only movie in the Weinstein stable to make more money than Scary 4 is Inglourious Basterds, and it's a steep drop off the cliff before you find another film (Hoodwinked, with $51 million). It's pretty much the same reason old hair metal bands play the casino circuit now: It's the closest thing to real money they're likely to see for a while.

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