MikeyJ122 wrote: ↑July 30th, 2021, 10:31 pmI was literally thinking the same thing, Dan was always pushing for BIGGER, when the trick might be in the opposite... Smaller. Having the Ghostbusters ending up on a different path than RGB and all the failed 3rd scripts had in common was success and fame. Basically what Peter always wanted. Having Ghostbusting being this amazing thing they did, that has been rediculed over time, keeps the underdog aspects alive, especially when you look at the new team. These kids are major underdogs, which is good for the GB spirit imo.
Bigger is part of the problem, but the solution is not necessarily to revert to smaller. You mention a different path than "RGB" -- why? IMO, that is the one true, unilaterally workable
Ghostbusters sequel idea: it becomes a day-to-day job, and you tell stories about individual busts. Doesn't even have to be the original crew; you could go the "nationwide franchise " route and show some other location's work. Since the original 1984 movie is about saving the world, it sort of forces the hand of anyone doing a sequel to come up with another apocalyptic threat, but having to top yourself every time is a problem, so you turn to something a bit more episodic.
There is an alternative, which is far more complex and challenging.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife is theoretically in a good position to follow it, but it'll be hard to say how it would work until we've seen the movie, which is that you have to have an organic new thing that push the characters farther along their journey.
Ghostbusters is bulletproof on character dynamics, but it isn't really an arc movie beyond broad strokes -- namely, that Peter stops being a skeptic, and the business is legitimized. If Phoebe is discovering her grandfather's legacy in this one, then what is the next stepping stone? Further developing his legacy, and if so, in what way?