Yesterday came the news that Ivan Reitman, who directed the original 'Ghostbusters', was stepping down as the director of 'Ghostbusters 3' with Sony Pictures moving on without him towards a 2015 start date.

It was a smart decision. Reitman had struggled creatively to get 'Ghostbusters 3' moving for the past few years (he says they now have a new script they like from writer Etan Cohen), and he's also struggled creatively outside of the 'Ghostbusters' universe, his last films including 'No Strings Attached', 'My Super Ex-Girlfriend' and 'Evolution'. A new director will bring new life and a youthful energy (one that Reitman himself admitted he couldn't manage) to 'Ghostbuster 3', a project that is sounding more and more like a reboot.

But, now the question is, who can direct 'Ghostbusters 3'? While it is one of the most high-profile gigs in Hollywood, it's also probably the most difficult. It's a sequel so many people think is a bad idea - including Bill Murray who isn't expected to be a part of the sequel - it will be a considerable challenge to any director who gets hired. Sony says they are "very anxious" to find the right director and get started on 'Ghostbusters 3' and with that, here's a list of potential candidates we think they should look at.

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    1

    Jason Reitman

    Son of Ivan Reitman, this is perhaps the most obvious choice. Jason is himself an Oscar-nominated director and even had a bit part in 'Ghostbusters II'. He's got the pedigree and he's in tight with the producer, but would he want to do it?

    Reitman has worked primarily in indie dramedies, but his last two films - 'Young Adult' and 'Labor Day' - were disappointments, so there may be some desire to stretch his wings and try something outside of his comfort zone.

    We remain unconvinced. Even though he's Ivan Reitman's son, 'Ghostbusters 3' just doesn't seem like a project he could pull off. And, we don't think he would want to be compared (moreso) to his father's work.

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    2

    Jon Favreau

    Favreau reportedly wanted the 'Star Wars: Episode 7' job badly (though he's recently claimed he wasn't all that interested), and seems ready to return to big-budget moviemaking after the indie film 'Chef'.

    Favreau has both the comic chops (see: 'Elf' and 'Swingers') and the action-adventure chops (see: 'Iron Man' and 'Zathura') to be able to pull off 'Ghostbusters 3', but he's currently working on a new 'Jungle Book' movie. His availability and interest are in question, but you could do worse.

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    3

    Nicholas Stoller

    Stoller has directed what will go down as one of the funniest films of the year in 'Neighbors' and has a history of smart, sharp comedies on his resume (we'll forget about 'The Five-Year Engagement' for now). He has, however, never directed anything on the scale of a 'Ghostbusters' movie. (Then again, Ivan Reitman had only directed 'Stripes' and 'Meatballs' prior to directing the original 'Ghostbusters'.)

    To date, Stoller has only directed movies for Universal, but perhaps Sony could steal him away. It'd be a gamble, but one that could potentially work out and at least make for a very funny movie.

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    4

    Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg

    Sony has long had their eyeballs on Seth Rogen as a possible star of 'Ghostbusters 3' but the actor once said, "It sounds like a terrible idea when you first hear it. At first hearing it sounds like the worst idea ever."

    But, that was before he and his partner Evan Goldberg had ever directed a movie. And not just any movie, one that had a very 'Ghostbuster'-y combination of laughs, special effects and monsters.

    Going from 'This Is the End' to 'Ghostbusters 3' is a big leap, but if Sony really, really wanted Rogen (and remember, they had the confidence in him to let him make his directorial debut on the ambitious 'This Is the End'), they could offer him the starring role, let him rewrite the script with Goldberg and let both of them behind the camera.

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    5

    Phil Lord and Chris Miller

    OK, now we're getting somewhere.

    For our money, Lord and Miller and not only the best choice, they're the only choice. Not only have the proven they can open a movie, they've proven they can open a movie that comes with inherent skepticism. Who really thought that a '21 Jump Street' movie or a 'LEGO Movie' could be any good? Not many people, but not only were they good, they were great and suddenly they're new franchises.

    Lord and Miller have the ability to bring real heart and emotion into their comedies (which also happen to be hilarious) and have proven with 'Jump Street' they can work with big action. They've worked with Sony Pictures before, they haven't yet decided on their next project and, above all else, people (both actors and audiences) will trust them.

    With any of the other names on this list you go, "yeah that could work," but with Lord and Miller, you actually start to get excited about what 'Ghostbusters 3' could be.

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