Sometimes its a name that goes a long way. While the title of Ghostbusters might seem goofy, it is now held with a respect and reverence. Yet, there was almost a chance it could have turned out sillier.
Through outtakes of the original 1984 supernatural comedy, fans are getting a glimpse of the name that could have been. The clips were finally released online via the official Ghostbusters YouTube page after only being available through the Steelbook Blu-ray set. Through the main characters shooting a TV commercial, the alternate takes reveal that the other purposed names were “Ghoststoppers” and “Ghostblasters.”
The reason for the caution in using “Ghostbusters” was due to concerns over the naming rights. In the 1970s there was a children’s comedy series named “The Ghost Busters” which was owned by Universal. Director Ivan Reitman and writer Dan Akroyd both were worried about the name being an issue as their distributor was Columbia Pictures.
Ultimately, the name stuck through a deal in which Columbia paid Universal Pictures $500,000 alongside 1% of the film’s profits. Hearing the alternate names being said by the characters is undeniably jarring but it is always fascinating to see these small “what ifs” of cinema. The name Ghostbusters now stands as a go-to for comedy classics and continues to spread across mediums.
As for the film franchise, the upcoming Ghostbusters: Afterlife has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is just another film facing significant delays due to the ongoing crisis. Ghostbusters: Afterlife remains within the continuity of the original Ghostbusters films and is being directed by Jason Reitman, the son of the original Ghostbusters director.
So while Ghostbusters might sound funny the first time you hear it, it is still leaps better than “Ghoststoppers.”
Ghostbusters: Afterlife is set to release on March 5, 2021.
Source: Slashfilm
