Franchise co-creator Dan Aykroyd has offered a glimpse into an early design for the Ghostbusters' iconic jumpsuits and proton packs, revealing that the characters nearly sported helmets.
Aykroyd, who portrayed Ray Stantz in the original 1984 film, shared an illustration by John Daveikis on X (formerly Twitter) showcasing the alternative concept. "Glad we lost the helmet," Aykroyd commented on the post, which depicted the proposed costumes. The illustrated suits appear to differ in color and style from the familiar khaki flightsuits, and the proton packs are notably different in size and shape compared to the final movie versions.
The helmet design featured in the illustration bears a resemblance to the headgear worn by Rebel pilots in the Star Wars saga. The Ghostbusters logo in this early concept is similar to the final, recognizable design, featuring a white ghost within a red circle on a black background, marked with a red diagonal slash.
Aykroyd co-wrote the original Ghostbusters screenplay with Harold Ramis. The film's title was nearly altered to "Ghostblasters" or "Ghoststoppers" due to potential rights issues.
The Ghostbusters franchise has continued to evolve, with the most recent film, "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire," released in 2024. That installment received a critical reception, with one review noting that the franchise might benefit from a hiatus until its core concept can be reimagined effectively without relying heavily on the original cast.