Get ready ghost hunters, because we have some awesome news on the upcoming sequel, Ghostbusters: Afterlife…Bill Murray is back.
There have been multiple iterations of the third Ghostbusters movie since the release of Ghostbusters 2. However, several factors contributed to the third film’s delays including Murray’s refusal to commit to another sequel and the death of Harold Ramis. In 2016, Sony decided to reboot the franchise with an all-female led cast. The reimagining received mixed reviews by the public and was rated negatively amidst the controversy, even before the movie’s release. As a result, the studio decided to instead focus on Ghostbusters 3 – a true sequel to Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters 2 – rather than make a sequel to the reboot.
After decades of anticipation, we finally have the amazing news that Murray will be rejoining the franchise. The new sequel, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, is currently in post-production and it will be his first time appearing on screen, as Peter Venkman, since 1989. In a recent interview, Bill Murray explained his renewed interest in the franchise:
“Well, we are a man down. That’s the deal. And that’s the story that we’re telling, that’s the story they’ve written. The script is good. It’s got lots of emotion in it. It’s got lots of family in it, with through lines that are really interesting. It’s gonna work.”
Given Murray’s previous reluctance to commit to a sequel, his seal of approval will mean a lot to fans of the franchise. New sequels and reboots of beloved franchises often face uphill battles due to fans’ strong emotional attachments to their story and characters. However director Jason Reitman, the son of Ghostbusters’ Ivan Reitman, has made a conscious effort to honor the legacy of the original films, while still paving the road for a new generation of fans.
“If I think about who I’m making this movie for, it’s my father. We all know what it’s like to be told stories by our parents. I’m really honored to get a chance to tell one back to him from the world he brought to life.”
It’s important to note that the original cast will not be the focal point of the film. The original cast members will be playing a meaningful yet supporting role, while the story will focus on the characters played by Finn Wolfhard, McKenna Grace, Carrie Coon, and Paul Rudd.
Bill Murray and the Gang is Back
While many of the actors from the original movie appeared in cameos in the 2016 reboot, they were playing different characters. Aside from Rick Moranis, fans will be happy to know that almost all of the original cast will return to reprise their 1984 roles, such as Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, and Annie Potts. Harold Ramis of course sadly passed away in 2014, but it seems the movie will incorporate the death of his character into the story to honor him.
Fans have also noted that the tone of the official trailer is markedly different from the original movies. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing though. It’s been a long time since the first two movies came out and the times have changed along with the types of movies that sell tickets at the box-office. So, while the tone of the new movie may have changed from the original, this seems like a true passing of the torch for a newer generation, that an older generation can still enjoy.
So get ready to strap on those proton packs and get ready for a new (and old) gang of Ghostbusters because Ghostbusters: Afterlife drops on July 10, 2020. What do you think of Bill Murray’s return? What do you think Venkman has been up to since the 90’s? Let us know in the comment section below or on our social media!
