Creating a sequel worthy of the cult Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II (1989) was always going to be a high-stakes job, but Ghostbusters: Afterlife hit all the bases — consistent story, excellent cast, decent visual effects, and plenty of appreciative nods to the original films. The movie ticked two key boxes — it served as both a great new-generation Ghostbusters story and a nostalgic trip for the fans of the original installments. Moreover, Jason Reitman directed the film as a loving and beautiful tribute to the sharp-witted physicist and original ghostbuster Egon Spengler and his actor, the late Harold Ramis.

For Jason Reitman, creating a Ghostbusters sequel meant living up to fans' impossibly high expectations and possibly those of his father, Ivan Reitman, who happens to be the director of the original movies. He had this idea of a girl finding a proton pack in a barn and a boy discovering Ecto-1 but didn't know what to do with it. It's only after Harold Ramis suddenly passed away in 2014 that all the pieces fell together — she had to be Egon's granddaughter. The intergenerational conversation shaped the roots of the story and allowed Reitman to honor the memory of Ramis at the same time.

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Ghostbusters: Afterlife is set more than thirty years after the events of Ghostbusters II. It follows the story of Callie Spengler (Carrie Coon), a single mother who moves her daughter Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) and her son Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) to a small town in Oklahoma to avoid dept and take over a house of her estranged late father, who is revealed to be the founding ghostbusters member Egon Spengler. While Callie hits it off with Grooberson (Paul Rudd), a teacher at her children's school, Phoebe discovers the legacy left by her grandfather and steps into his shoes to combat the awakened evil that the original ghostbusters faced before — the ancient god-like being Gozer.

Gary and Phoebe activity a ghost trap from Ghostbusters: Afterlife

The sequel is packed with callbacks to the original movies — from miniature marshmallow men to the gatekeeper-key master exchange to the iconic "Who you gonna call" line. On top of that, in an exciting and undoubtedly timely cameo, it brings back the original ghostbusters team, with Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and the late Harold Ramis stepping up to thwart Gozer's plans. Bringing back Ramis was masterfully and delicately achieved by using archival photos and clips of Ramis taken from the original two films, a double, and the most cutting-edge CG.

Why Egon Doesn't Speak In Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Egon reading results in Ghostbusters

Perhaps, the best element in Ramis' already impressive appearance was Reitman's thoughtful decision to keep the character silent. Instead of piecing together and using an awkward compilation of Egon's existing lines — similar to what The Rise of Skywalker did to create an impression of Princess Leia's (the late Carrie Fisher) presence in the story — or using a voice double, Ghostbusters: Afterlife handled his cameo with the utmost care and sensitivity. By keeping him silent and allowing other characters to say their goodbyes and deliver his final message for him, Reitman preserved fans' fond memories and only increased the emotional impact of the final dedication "To Harold" that appeared on screen at the very end.

However, while the poignant final message and the appearance of the character's ghost are the most obvious nods to the late Ramis, they are far from the only ones.

It's A Spenglers' Story

Spenglers and Podcast in Ghostbusters: Afterlife

The very plot of Ghostbusters: Afterlife is shaped around the passing of Egon, who, at the very start, attempts and fails to trap Gozer and is attacked by the mysterious mist that prompts his heart attack. While the audience doesn't actually see the man's face, it is clear that not only it is the science-driven ghostbuster but that he has his original appearance — the effect that's achieved with skilled use of a double and a clever makeup work that helps recreate Ramis' great presence on screen.

What's more, his granddaughter Phoebe is the one to carry on his legacy and take up the fight against the ancient evil, in Egon's suit and with his proton bag no less. With his grandson Trevor joining the battle and his daughter being dragged into it in the shape of a demonic dog, it is truly a Spenglers' story. It even features a forgotten Twinkie — Egon's treat of choice when it comes to explaining the amount of psycho-kinetic energy in New York — that Phoebe finds in Ecto-1's glove box.

Phoebe Is A Lot Like Egon

Phoebe and her grandfather Egon Spengler as ghostbusters

The main protagonist, Egon's granddaughter, resembles the late legendary ghostbuster in many ways. She's a scientist, driven by facts and insatiable curiosity, which allows Egon to connect with her and even give her clever clues to find a ghost trap and assume the ghostbuster's role. She even wears similar glasses. She's somewhat socially awkward, so it's only logical that she bonds with another oddball — a boy called Podcast — not unlike Egon assembling a bizarre and diverse group of busters in the original movies. And finally, Phoebe is just as fierce and brave as her grandfather was. She picks up the proton gun and doesn't hesitate to go after the ghosts and even Gozer herself because if she doesn't, who will?

Ghostbusters: Afterlife managed a seemingly impossible task. Instead of trying to rewrite the canon (previously unsuccessfully attempted by the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot), it masterfully packed a fresh, new-gen story into a nostalgia-scented wrapping of countless references and heartfelt cameos. The sequel handled its roots and the return of the characters with the utmost respect, and the fans certainly appreciated that. At the same time, Ghostbusters: Afterlife's post-credit scene cleverly sets up for the continuation of the story, promising new adventures but respecting the movie's origins. It managed to honor the memory of Harold Ramis, the co-writer and star of the original Ghostbusters, pay a loving tribute to his character, and ensure that his legacy lives on.

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