It's an exciting week for fans of phantom-catching because not only is the new sequel, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, dropping, but the cast of the original Ghostbusters duology has also appeared on screen together once more. This time there was less ghostbusting and more talk as they reunited on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
The stars of the original ‘80s hit, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Ernie Hudson, sat down with Fallon on NBC’s late-night show to promote the upcoming Ghostbusters sequel. They talked about what it was like making the original films together and the significance of passing the torch on to the next generation. The three Ghostbusters appeared together in 2020 as well, on Josh Gad's Youtube show. The fourth original ghostbuster, the late Harold Ramis, was of course sorely missed then and now.
Aykroyd explained how they read Jason Reitman's script for the sequel Afterlife, set after the events of the first two films, and thought that it was "so full of heart" and they all agreed that it felt like "the right time" for a sequel. Murray noted that everyone who has seen the movie so far has cried, joking therefore that "it should be an extremely successful comedy." The three stars are reprising their roles in the upcoming sequel and Hudson even admitted that he "was in tears" when they put their costumes on once more. Murray said he was reminded of the original Ghostbusters, particularly how heavy the "vacuums" they carried were. Fallon also introduced a clip from Afterlife showing Paul Rudd facing a terrifying apparition, upping the anticipation for the release.
The appearance is sure to please fans eagerly awaiting the sequel, with the reprising of roles from the original '80s stars being a big draw. The movie boasts an impressive cast with not only Murray, Aykroyd, and Hudson returning but Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts, too. It's a sequel that is deeply rooted in the originals. Its writer and director Jason Reitman is the son of the original director, Ivan Reitman, who reportedly cried watching his son's new Ghostbusters sequel. The approval from the franchise's originals will come as welcomed validation for a follow-up that seems indebted to nostalgia and fan service.
However, outside of this familial element, the pressure is on as early reviews of Ghostbusters: Afterlife trickle in. Critics seem divided on whether or not the nostalgia element is appealing, with The Guardian labeling the movie “a slimy, stinking corpse of a sequel.” On the other side, Variety called the installment “a fresh jolt of energy [that] offers fan service alongside a new entry point for younger audiences,” demonstrating an unusually sharp divide in opinion. Fans may prefer to listen to Akyroyd, who was full of praise for the new cast members Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, McKenna Grace, and Rudd.
The release of Ghostbusters: Afterlife was delayed by the pandemic, one of the countless anticipated titles affected. This wait has only given time for the excitement surrounding the reboot to increase, and its makers will finally be able to show the fruits of their labor. It will be up to fans to decide for themselves if it constitutes a worthwhile effort.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife is set to hit theaters on November 19th, 2021.