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In 2021, one of the standout releases in the film industry was the highly anticipated “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” directed by Jason Reitman, the son of the original “Ghostbusters” director, Ivan Reitman. The movie generated a lot of excitement, partly due to its delayed release caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Afterlife” performed well for the franchise, receiving positive reviews from both critics and audiences, and it earned nearly $200 million at the box office. As a result, fans are eagerly looking forward to a sequel.
During CinemaCon in April 2022, Sony hinted at the greenlighting of “Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2.” Deadline reported that the film was officially confirmed by Jason Reitman, the director of the first film, and writer Gil Kenan in June of the same year. Initially scheduled for a December 2023 release, the sequel is now slated for a March 2024 release, with a change in the director’s chair as Gil Kenan takes the helm.
The direction of the story for the upcoming sequel remains uncertain at this point. However, the latest film introduced new characters, a different setting, and a renewed interest in ghostbusting. With these elements in place, there is ample potential for the sequel to explore new avenues.
Update as of October 31, 2023: In celebration of Halloween, “Ghostbusters” is an ideal choice for a family-friendly movie night. In honor of this holiday, we have updated this article with our hopes and expectations for what the sequel to “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” may bring.
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The Torch Officially Being Passed
Phoebe, though initially depicted as emotionally reserved, demonstrated a strong affinity for exploration, science, and building connections, which perfectly aligned with Egon’s character. Her social awkwardness complemented her sharp intellect. With some time to pass before the sequel’s release, it’s expected that when Phoebe returns, she will have grown into a confident young scientist dedicated to advancing her grandfather’s and his team of ghostbusters’ work.
While “Afterlife” primarily focused on unraveling Phoebe’s family history, the sequel can now move beyond this initial point. With a few years of experience in paranormal hunting, Phoebe and her brother Trevor can step into their roles as professional ghostbusters.
The sequel will introduce new characters who were part of “Afterlife,” such as Podcast, Lucky, Phoebe’s mother Callie, and Mr. Grooberson. Notably, William Atherton is returning to the Ghostbusters world, and there will be new faces like Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, James Acaster, and Emily Alyn Lind joining the cast.
While it was expected and enjoyable to see the original Ghostbusters make an appearance at the end of “Afterlife,” the sequel will likely include Winston, and there may be some involvement from Venkman and Ray, though the extent of their roles is yet to be determined. The sequel will undoubtedly pay homage to the original group that started the Ghostbusters, but it’s time for the new team to shine.
A Solid Villain
Critics of Ghostbusters: Afterlife have pointed out the film’s reused plot involving the defeat of Gozer. While the movie had enjoyable elements, like Paul Rudd’s transformation into a demon dog and familiar banter from Venkman in the climactic battle, some argue that the sequel would benefit from introducing a new antagonist. Jason Reitman has hinted at the potential return of Vigo the Carpathian on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, who was a formidable villain in Ghostbusters 2. Vigo’s return could be intriguing, as history has been kind to Ghostbusters 2 and its villain.
However, bringing back Vigo as the main antagonist might detract from the new direction taken by Phoebe and the new Ghostbusters team. The supernatural world offers a wealth of unexplored possibilities, whether it’s based on existing lore, folk tales, or entirely original concepts. Creating a strong ghost villain necessitates a fresh motive and a personal challenge for the new Ghostbusters.
The challenge with “re-quels” (reboot-sequels) lies in striking a balance between meeting fan expectations while delivering a compelling story that resonates with the intended audience. This can be a daunting task, as seen in franchises like Star Wars, Scream, and Ghostbusters. Nevertheless, studios are often willing to take on this challenge, as these films tend to be financially successful, and Ghostbusters has already proven to be a lucrative franchise.
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A Return to Comedy
Many observers pointed out that Ghostbusters: Afterlife took a more serious tone compared to the earlier films in the Ghostbusters franchise. This approach emphasized a deep respect for the original movie, which is somewhat unusual because the original was primarily a comedy. While the approach of treating the story in a mythic way has worked for legacy sequels like Star Wars and Rocky, it seemed somewhat out of place when applied to Ghostbusters.
In light of the groundwork laid by Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the stage is now set for a sequel to fully embrace the comedic spirit of the original film, which is what audiences loved about Ghostbusters. The original story featured the defeat of supernatural entities not by priests or powerful wizards but by four comedians dressed as pest control experts. With the new film’s focus on the younger generation taking up the Ghostbusters mantle, there are plenty of comedic possibilities to explore with this concept.
Justice for Ghostbusters: Answer the Call
Paul Feig’s 2016 Ghostbusters reboot faced significant online backlash, primarily due to the fact that the main cast consisted of female Ghostbusters. Despite the initial criticism and review-bombing, the film received a 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and did find some favor with audiences.
Paul Feig expressed interest in making a sequel to his Ghostbusters film and even considered a crossover with the Ghostbusters: Afterlife team, played by Leslie Jones, Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, and Kate McKinnon. Jason Reitman, the director of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, could make amends for previous comments and include these actors in his sequel, just as original Ghostbusters actors had cameos in the 2016 film.
The action in the upcoming Ghostbusters sequel is returning to New York, the same setting as the 2016 film. While the two movies exist in separate continuities, there might be potential for a multiverse concept, but even without that, there can be a connection to the 2016 film.
The Ghostbusters series has traditionally been a family affair with father-and-son Reitman directors, and Ghostbusters: Afterlife succeeded by offering fresh characters, a new setting, and heartfelt homages to the original, in addition to its originality. Sequels face inherent challenges, and Reitman and his team have the opportunity to create something special with the next installment if they maintain these elements.
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