Dan Aykroyd looking for ‘Ghostbusters’ recruits

The “Ghostbusters” gang is getting ready to strap on their proton packs once more, with some new recruits.

A long-awaited third film in the series “could be in production by winter,” Dan Aykroyd, the star and co-writer of “Ghostbusters”’ first two installments, told the L.A. Times, adding that he hopes stars such as Alyssa Milano and Eliza Dushku sign on to join the ghost-fighting team’s second-generation squad.

The star confirmed that the core of original cast — Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson — is on board for the film.

Murray’s involvement in the film had been questioned, but Aykroyd said not to blame the comedian for his reticence.

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“I don’t put not making the third movie on Billy. We can’t do that,” he said. “I’ve been very busy. Harold’s been busy, Ivan’s been busy. And a third script really didn’t coalesce properly. And Billy, you can’t blame an artist for not wanting to do the same thing again.”

“You can’t force somebody into it,” he added. “I’m sorry he never read my third draft because I thought it was pretty good but, look, now we’re at a point that there’s a story that he can accept and that’s going to work, and I think we’re going to be in production fairly soon.”

“Year One” screenwriters Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, who also write for NBC’s “The Office,” have penned the new sequel, which won’t be their first collaboration with the “Ghostbusters” crew; Harold Ramis directed “Year One” and is Aykroyd’s pick to direct “Ghostbusters 3” if original director Ivan Reitman isn’t free.

“He has a lot of things going on, but it would be wonderful to see (Harold) do it,” Aykroyd said, adding Reitman was “too busy as a mega-producer” to helm the film.

However, Aykroyd noted that the new film would focus on new characters joining the Ghostbusters squad, naming Milano and Dushku as possibilities.

“I think they’re amazing,” he said. “I’d like it to be a passing-of-the-torch movie.”