Maybe it's time to let the old things die. Like 'Ghostbusters'

I have hesitated to wade into the so-called Ghostbusters 3 controversy because, well, why? But I have such attachment to the original films, especially the first one, that I can't help but feel a little invested in their legacy, as silly as that sounds.

I totally understand that for many people the original 1984 film and its sequel are either overrated, outdated, or irrelevant, but for me they were more than just a touchstone of my childhood, they were foundational for my nascent sense of humor.

When the series was rebooted a couple years ago with all women I was totally at peace with it. My feeling was, especially after the untimely death of Harold Ramis, that I didn't want to a new movie featuring the three remaining, now elderly Ghostbusters and I didn't want to see a movie with a bunch of new era bros who would simply pale in comparison to the originals.

Of course, a case could be made -- and made effectively -- that producers and the studio should have left well enough alone. All that could be said about this world may have already been said. But since both original films were hugely profitable and for the most part beloved (again, the sequel not as much) that it was perhaps inevitable that some reimagining would happen, and I figured an all-women take was probably the freshest, most interesting direction the series could go.

For me, the resulting Paul Feig-directed movie was a mixed bag that sadly got overwhelmed by an insanely overheated male-driven backlash that simply made absolutely no sense, besides being sickeningly sexist.

There was literally nothing lost by having the four leads be female. Kate McKinnon in particular was a blast. But I felt the movie was too much of a retread of the original, afraid to do something too new that might upset the fanboys. I didn't hate it, but I also remember little about it. And yet, I loved that it clearly did persuade a lot of young women that they could be Ghostbusters, too.

The movie did fine at the box office, but there was no great clamor for a sequel, and I kind of figured this whole series had been put to bed for good.

But apparently not, as a teaser trailer has arrived for a mysterious new Ghostbusters production to be helmed by Ivan Reitman's son, director Jason Reitman. Due out in 2020, the new film is expected to be more of a natural extension of the original franchise (the last iteration basically ignored the original film, and its stars like Bill Murray, appeared in cameos as entirely different characters). So ostensibly Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Murray would appear (although Murray has famously always resisted the idea of another Ghostbusters sequel). And there will be a new squad of heroes, which will feature two men and two women.

Leslie Jones, who unfairly bore the brunt of a lot of Ghostbusters hate the last time around, called the move something "Trump would do," meanwhile I imagine there is a separate chorus that is excited to the son of the man who made the originals taking the reins and 'saving' the franchise.

There's also the possibility that everyone is wrong and also everyone is right. Jason Reitman is a solid director, I really like his Up in the Air, but he's never made this kind of broad, effects-driven comedy so there's no reason to presume he'll handle this material any better than Feig did.

On the other hand, as his father's son, he's been close to this material his whole life, clearly has a real passion for it, and as far as reboots go -- it's always the ones where people really care about the material and its legacy (think Creed or J.J. Abrams' Star Trek) that turn out the best.

Unfortunately, like so many things, Ghostbusters has become a kind of partisan football, where too much diversity is viewed as a slight to the right, whereas not enough is supposed to be a gift to red state America.

Even though I am a hardcore fan of the original -- I am not blind to its flaws. It's definitely misogynist at times, a bit racially insensitive and certainly by-and-large male driven (although Sigourney Weaver is great in what could have been a thankless leading lady role). It's to be kind, 'of its time.'

It simply serves no one in 2019 or 2020 for that matter to make a Ghostbusters film where the characters are all male, or all white for that matter. Of greater concern to me, as a fan, is how close in proximity this movie is coming to the last one. It's a little like when they quickly tried to reboot Spider-Man after Spider-Man 3 -- it just feels too soon.

Maybe Reitman and company earnestly mean no offense, but how could this not be interpreted as some sort of rebuke of the Feig film. The dust has barely settled on that movie. I also feel like we are now 30 years out from the last film featuring the original Ghostbusters. Is anyone clamoring to see a continuation of that story and that world?

It's not like Star Wars, where there are plenty of universes and storylines that have yet to be explored. And sadly, like that franchise, Ghostbusters fandom has become so toxic that it's become no fun to be associated with it.

At this point, unless the new movie is a phenomenal game-changer, I am worried that it just sullies the Ghostbusters name even more. And I would rather preserve my fond memories. I just can't get excited for this new project. Of course, that cast will peak my interest, as will the reviews. But this feels like another get rich scheme to cash in on people like me's nostalgia.