Channing Tatum is being eyed to star in a new Ghostbusters film, according to reports.

The Magic Mike star is one of the actors being considered to play a scientist-turned-spook hunter in a series of planned movies in the franchise, reported Deadline. He would also be involved as a producer.

Chris Pratt
Chris Pratt (Jordan Strauss/Invision)

Guardians Of The Galaxy’s Chris Pratt is also attached to the film, according to Badass Digest.

The new franchise – which will kick off with Paul Feig’s all-female reboot, starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon – is being developed by Ivan Reitman and Dan Aykroyd, who directed and starred in the original two films respectively.

“We want to expand the Ghostbusters universe in ways that will include different films, TV shows, merchandise, all things that are part of modern filmed entertainment,” the 68-year-old filmmaker said.

Ivan Reitman
Ivan Reitman (Matt Sayles/AP)

“This is a branded entertainment, a scary supernatural premise mixed with comedy. Paul Feig’s film will be the first version of that, shooting in June to come out in July 2016. He’s got four of the funniest women in the world, and there will be other surprises to come.”

Channing and Chris are rumoured to feature in the second film, which Iron Man 3 and Mission: Impossible 5 screenwriter Drew Pearce is in talks for. Captain America directors Joe and Anthony Russo are expected to take the reins.

Ivan continued: “The second film has a wonderful idea that builds on that. Drew will start writing and the hope is to be ready for the Russo Brothers’ next window next summer to shoot, with the movie coming out the following year. It’s just the beginning of what I hope will be a lot of wonderful movies.”

He added: “My primary focus will be to build the Ghostbusters into the universe it always promised it might become. The original film is beloved, as is the cast, and we hope to create films we will continue to love.”

Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis
Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis were the original Ghostbusters (AP)

Ivan, who last directed sports drama Draft Day starring Kevin Costner, reckons it was only a matter of time before the franchise was relaunched.

The 1984 comedy, which starred Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Sigourney Weaver, spawned a sequel, animated television series and video games.

“Sometimes things happen at the speed they are supposed to happen,” he said.

“The deals were so strong on that second movie that the franchise became frozen in place 25 years. Nothing got done, we all had the power to block whatever we didn’t like, but we finally got together and found a way.”