Free Republic

Ivan Reitman, the influential filmmaker and producer behind beloved comedies from “Animal House” to “Ghostbusters,” has died. He was 75. Reitman died peacefully in his sleep Saturday night at his home in Montecito, Calif., his family told The Associated Press. “Our family is grieving the unexpected loss of a husband, father, and grandfather who taught us to always seek the magic in life,” children Jason Reitman, Catherine Reitman and Caroline Reitman said in a joint statement.

Do you believe in UFOs, astral projections, mental telepathy, ESP, clairvoyance, spirit photography, telekinetic movement, full-trance mediums, the Loch Ness Monster and the theory of Atlantis? If so, good news — there’s a new Ghostbusters movie in the works. Entertainment Weekly has learned exclusively that Jason Reitman will direct and co-write an upcoming film set in the world that was saved decades previously by the proton pack-wearing working stiffs in the original 1984 movie, which was directed by his father, Ivan Reitman. “I’ve always thought of myself as the first Ghostbusters fan, when I was a 6-year-old visiting the set....

CBS has put in development Stripes, a single-camera comedy based on the 1981 Bill Murray-Harold Ramis film, Deadline has learned. The project hails from the Whitest Kids U’Know trio of Trevor Moore, Sam Brown and Zach Cregger, Sony Pictures TV and CBS Television Studios. Ivan Reitman, who helmed the movie, is attached to direct and executive produce via his the Montecito Picture Company.

A STRING of top Hollywood A-listers have signed a petition backing Israel and condemning Hamas. Actors Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kelsey Grammer, Seth Rogen, Sylvester Stallone and Minnie Driver were among nearly 200 famous signatories urging the terror organisation to stop firing rockets into Israel and work towards peace. Director Ivan Reitman, writer Aaron Sorkin and Roseanne Barr also signed the petition, which was published in the magazines Billboard, Variety and Hollywood Reporter. It comes after other celebrities, including Penelope Cruz, Rihanna and Selena Gomez criticised Israel's response to the rocket attacks. The petition - which asks Hamas to remember that 'Children...