Cancelled Movies: Ghostbusters Film Starring Chris Rock, Chris Farley And Ben Stiller Was Reportedly In Development

Everytime there's rumors of a new "Ghostbusters" film, fans always draw up their dream cast line-up. Prior to the release of Paul Feig's 2016 reboot, fans were clamoring for "Ghostbusters" team that included comedy's top stars of the time (particularly from the Judd Apatow-verse) like Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, and Paul Rudd, among others. While we know that film never came to be, we did get a stacked cast of top comedians including Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones for the 2016 version of the movie, and Paul Rudd did end up in the cast of 2021's "Ghostbusters: Afterlife."

In the '90s, when a script called "Ghostbusters 3: Hellbent" was going around Hollywood, franchise co-creator and Egon Spengler himself, Harold Ramis, had a dream cast in mind for who he thought would take up the mantle for a new generation in that decade. According to an interview with Ramis on Morewhatnot, the late filmmaker and funnyman revealed he would have cast Chris Farley, Chris Rock, and Ben Stiller in a "Ghostbusters" for a '90s film. 

It seemed as if Chris Farley had been a part of the new lineup as Ray Stantz's nephew ever since Dan Aykroyd worked with him on "Tommy Boy." Both Chris Rock and Will Smith were talked about at one time or another through the long development of "Ghostbusters 3" for a Winston Zeddemore-type of role. Ben Stiller was a name that came up all the way through 2005 when the script was still being talked about.

The Ghostbusters Go to Hell concept could never get to the production stage

The sequel Chris Farley, Chris Rock, and Ben Stiller could have starred in would have been called "Ghostbusters 3: Hellbent" and was essentially a concept that featured the Ghostbusters going to hell, fighting the devil, and training a new generation to take over their supernatural business. 

Ghostbuster Harold Ramis talked to Morewhatnot about how he envisioned hell in the script. Ramis said, "My concept there was that Hell is a simultaneous reality, it's slightly out of phase with our reality. It's like a strobe, when our reality is on, hell kind of blinks off." He explained (sort of) how the team ends up in hell saying, "So what the Ghostbusters have to do is kind of a hitch step, you know when you try to get in step with somebody. The Ghostbusters had to technically skip one beat and then they're in Hell." 

The '90s concept was thrown out after nearly two decades of being stuck in development hell. Ramis directed a Judd Apatow-produced comedy called "Year One" in 2009 which starred Michael Cera and Jack Black, who of course also came up as names for Next-Gen Ghostbusters, from "The Office" writers Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg. Ramis brought on the writing duo to work on a new script for "Ghostbusters 3" Ramis said that he was interested in a new cast for the movie saying that he wanted to, "Bring a fresh generational spin to it. We were voices for our generation, popular voices, but this generation sounds different." "Ghostbusters 3" never ended up materializing, but fans now have "Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2" to look forward to later in 2023.

Credits: Looper

Is SABC Still Planning To Expand Their Operations To MultiChoice's DStv And eMedia Investments' Openview?

In 2021, reported rivals eMedia Investments and the SABC had extended the agreement to include SABC Sport alongside SABC's 19 radio stations. This would sit alongside SABC 1-3 with plans to add two entertainment channels to the existing line-up. 

These channels never came to fruition to Openview consumers since the agreement was announced despite promises to unveil them. The only thing known about these brands is that the premise is similar to SABC Encore with plans to include new content. 

Prior to this, MultiChoice and StarSat were in discussion to launch another TV channel from the public broadcaster, SABC Education. Similar to these two untitled channels on Openview, SABC Education hadn't launched yet and only resides on SABC's DTT and SABC+.

There had been mentions that MultiChoice similar to eMedia Investments could be looking to add more TV channels from the SABC which is delaying the rollout of SABC Education. Another that an SABC Encore based channel was in development. 

Since last year, the public broadcaster was only able to launch two channels SABC Lehae and SABC Variety. Although, they hadn't officially announced the channels or properly marketed them they are however viewable on SABC's DTT with Lehae also on SABC+.

Speculation going around is that these channels would also be allocated on eMedia Investments' Openview. The public broadcaster is low on income and the only reason they would even greenlit a channel would be if they had some form of funding.

These two channels do match the description SABC provided about these Openview channels - repeats. SABC Lehae would give consumers access to local news following the dismissal of News And Sports in 2022 while SABC Variety would compliment ePleiser. 

Not much is known on why SABC hadn't expanded their services as intended but some guesses have to do with the restructuring of SABC 1-3. The SABC is currently reviewing the content on these channels in an attempt to revamp themselves. 

Maybe these endeavors would lead to the creation of more TV channels or restructures for their other brands.

Another reason could be the corporate management of these brands, they had promised to launch SABC+ by 2018/9 but did so successfully by 2022. Same thing with SABC Lehae, no announcement or media briefing on its launch as promised last year.

Recap To The Week: DAZN Secures Global Rights To Broadcast AEW’s Double Or Nothing And NJPW: Forbidden Door

The global streaming platform, DAZN has acquired the exclusive broadcast rights for All Elite Wrestling‘s (AEW) two Pay-Per-View events – AEW: Double or Nothing and AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door.

Starting this weekend, fans globally will be able to buy AEW PPV events directly on the DAZN Platform. On May 26, AEW will return to Las Vegas with AEW: Double or Nothing for its sixth season. A thrilling evening of professional wrestling is anticipated at AEW: Double or Nothing, which will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Pete Oliver, CEO of Growth Markets at DAZN, said, “We are pleased to be partnering with AEW to bring their exhilarating Pay-Per-View events to audiences across the globe. By providing fans with access to these blockbuster events, we aim to elevate the sports viewing experience and enable wrestling fans to experience every moment of the action, from thrilling matches to surprise appearances.”

The combined pay-per-view event AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door, presented by AEW and NJPW (New Japan Pro Wrestling), will air live from UBS Arena on Long Island, NY, on June 30 on DAZN.

Ten fights have been announced for Sunday’s pay-per-view, with seven championships on the line, including the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Eliminator battle.

Australia, Afghanistan, India, Japan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and the Maldives are among the territories that are not included in this agreement.

Was Anyone Surprised That eMedia Investments Removed TNA (Formerly Impact Wrestling) From Openview?

By late 2019, TNA (formerly IMPACT Wrestling), a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment, had announced a new multi-year television deal which will make e.tv the home of TNA across more than 50 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The exclusive broadcast deal would showcase TNA Wrestling’s flagship weekly shows TNA Wrestling IMPACT! and TNA Xplosion, plus four annual pay-per-views, monthly event series and library content from TNA+.

Since its inception, the show went through numerous timeslot changes on e.tv and often pulled a houdini. To top it off, TNA was overshadowed by the likes of the DStv Premiership on SABC 1 as they aired in the same timeslot.

That was never the case with WWE and even if it were e.tv would allocate repeats throughout the week and none of those efforts were seen with TNA. Even with PPVs, e.tv would reserve a timeslot for Summerslam or WrestleMania while the latter went to Openview. 

eMedia Investments' attempts at substituting TNA went unnoticed and was heavily criticized by viewers. Some of which criticized the dialogue and storyline and went as far as making comparisons with WWE.

After 5 years, eMedia Investments opted not to renew their agreement with TNA which led StarTimes acquire those rights. This would bring TNA Wrestling's offering to 30 countries including Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, South Africa and Ivory Coast.

Samurai Jack: The Amulet Of Time (GBA)

The game follows Jack's quest through seven areas to obtain the elemental gem pieces of an amulet that can send him back to his own time. As more gemstones are collected, the player unlocks more of Jack's weapons and abilities, such as a super jump and a battle hammer.

For an emulator please visit Regular Nick: Games

Download Now