Dan Aykroyd Hoping For Eliza Dushku & Alyssa Milano In ‘Ghostbusters 3’

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Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis in ‘Ghostbusters’
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Dan Aykroyd signs an autograph during an in-store appearance to promote his new book’Elwood’s Blues’ at Barnes and Noble November 4, 2004 in New York City
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Alyssa Milano attends a book signing of ‘Safe at Home’ by Alyssa Milano at Borders Books on March 30, 2009 in New York City
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Eliza Dushku arrives at Spike TV’s 2008 ‘Video Game Awards’

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FIRST PUBLISHED: May 20, 2009 5:42 PM EDT
LAST UPDATED: May 20, 2009 6:19 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

The “Ghostbusters” gang is getting ready to strap on their proton packs once more – with some new recruits.

A long-awaited third film in the series “could be in production by winter,” Dan Aykroyd, the star and co-writer of “Ghostbusters”’ first two installments, told the LA Times, adding that he hopes stars such as Alyssa Milano and Eliza Dushku sign on to join the ghost-fighting team’s second-generation squad.

The star confirmed that the core of original cast – himself, Sigourney Weaver, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson — is on board for the film.

Bill’s involvement in the film had been questioned, but Dan said not to blame the comedian for his reticence.

“I don’t put not making the third movie on Billy. We can’t do that,” he said. “I’ve been very busy. Harold’s been busy, Ivan’s been busy. And a third script really didn’t coalesce properly. And Billy, you can’t blame an artist for not wanting to do the same thing again.”

“You can’t force somebody into it,” he added. “I’m sorry he never read my third draft because I thought it was pretty good but, look, now we’re at a point that there’s a story that he can accept and that’s going to work, and I think we’re going to be in production fairly soon.”

“Year One” screenwriters Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, who also write for NBC’s “The Office,” have penned the new sequel, which won’t be their first collaboration with the “Ghostbusters” crew – Harold Ramis directed “Year One” and is Aykroyd’s pick to direct “Ghostbusters 3” if original director Ivan Reitman isn’t free.

“He has a lot of things going on, but it would be wonderful to see [Harold] do it,” Dan said, adding Ivan was “too busy as a mega-producer” to helm the film.

However, Dan noted that the new film would focus on new characters joining the Ghostbusters squad, naming Alyssa and Eliza as possibilities.

“I think they’re amazing,” he said. “I’d like it to be a passing-of-the-torch movie.”

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