Dan Aykroyd Spills 'Ghostbusters 3' Plot Details

We'll say this much for Dan Aykroyd: The guy does not give up easily. Despite years and years and years of setbacks on Ghostbusters 3, the former Dr. Stantz is still as determined as ever.

Indeed, he's currently hopeful that production on the film could get under way by next year — and he's more than happy to share the details on what we'll see if and when it ever gets made. Apparently, the new plot involves particle physics and four new Ghostbusters. Hit the jump to get the dirt.

It's based on new research that's being done in particle physics by the young men and women at Columbia University. [...] Basically, there's research being done that I can say that the world or the dimension that we live in, our four planes of existence, length, height, width and time, become threatened by some of the research that's being done. Ghostbusters — new Ghostbusters — have to come and solve the problem.

In addition to the new Ghostbusters, who'll start out as Columbia University students, the threequel will bring back characters from the original including King as himself. "Of course, we're going to be doing you in your new format as you comment on what's happening in Manhattan up there at Morningside Heights," Aykroyd explained to the host. "It's going to be quite a spectacular scene once the stuff starts to break."

Bill Murray won't be among the familiar faces, unfortunately, but Aykroyd says he's still willing to make room if his old pal changes his mind. "There will be a hole for him," he said. "If Billy wants to walk in the door and be in the movie, we will find a place."

Of course, all of this new info is founded on the (overly?) optimistic assumption that this version of Ghostbusters 3 will actually come to pass in the near future. At this point, I'm not holding my breath. But if you share Aykroyd's rosy view, his estimate last month was that the film could shoot in 2014.