We discover the hidden story behind the original Ghostbusters script
Before its release in 1984, the original script for The Ghostbusters It was very different from the story the public knows today. Dan Aykroyd He wrote the first draft without any limitations, emphasizing the science fiction elements much more and making the supernatural characters more prominent. Such a marked difference seems unusual in such a well-known film, but the truth is that the first version of the script almost seemed to belong to a completely different film.
The script rewriting process
The Ghostbusters has become a pop culture icon, noted for its creative spirit, humor, outlandish creature designs, and the very concept of battling the paranormal. With a legacy that has endured nearly 40 years, the success of the original film seems like a stroke of luck, with the right people working together at the right time. However, the script had to be completely rewritten before it was ready for filming.
Aykroyd’s original script faced complications that, if not addressed, would have prevented the film from being made. The original plot involved Aykroyd already John Belushi as a pair of professional ghost hunters battling paranormal enemies in various locations in outer space.
But Belushi passed away before the script was finished, and a monumental amount of special effects would be needed to create the settings and the creepy creatures that inhabited them. The director Ivan Reitman described in an interview (via Vanity Fair) that the script “was impossible to do but… it had brilliant ideas,” and so he, Aykroyd and Harold Ramis made extensive revisions to the script. At the time, cutting content from the Ghostbusters script was a necessity as much as a creative decision.
The transformation of New York into a paranormal setting
New York was used as a setting partially due to technical challenges, but also because the filmmakers recognized it would make the supernatural elements feel more special. The metropolitan backdrop may sound less exciting, but the contrast between the paranormal and the ordinary makes certain scenes more effective. The appearance of Slimer The Sedgewick Hotel is striking because its design is so strange and surreal that it easily becomes the focus when it’s on screen. Using more otherworldly environments would have likely distracted the audience from the ghosts themselves because instead of one character standing out, all the characters would stand out.
Perhaps the most significant change to the script was the tone of the film. Aykroyd’s original draft was expressly darker than the final version, but the performances of the eponymous ghostbusters created enough humor to balance the tone amid the horror and action sequences.
It is not impossible to imagine a darker version of The Ghostbustersbut comedy is such a significant part of the film’s identity that it probably would have been a more serious film. The premise of four people fighting ghosts without having much of an idea of how to do so creates comedy through the sheer absurdity of the situation, as the film builds tension when necessary but never forgets to bring laughter to the audience.
The creativity behind the changes
While many unique ideas had to be cut from the original Ghostbusters script, the final version speaks volumes to the creative drive of the people who made it. With a new installment on the way, perhaps some of Dan Aykroyd’s early ideas can be revisited or even inspire entirely new ideas. Only time will tell what new plans await the Ghostbusters in the next chapter of the story.
The success of The Ghostbusters not only lies in its story and special effects, but also in the adaptability and creativity of its team. As the franchise progresses, fans can look forward to seeing how this beloved saga evolves, always with the hope that the original essence they love so much will still be present.
