Ghostbusters: Afterlife was supposed to come out last year. When the pandemic came, the release date was pushed back to this summer, and then it was pushed back yet again for November. The first full-length trailer came out in 2019, and as I was reading Hecate’s coverage, I realized that I had zero memory of it. Which is probably why they recut a new trailer which shows a lot more action (rather than the moodiness of the first one). The cast includes Paul Rudd (a mysterious vampire), Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, an utterly unrecognizable Carrie Coon, Annie Potts (I squealed) and… lots of names you’ll definitely know. IMDB has Dan Ackroyd (whose voice you can hear in the trailer), Sigourney Weaver, Ernie Hudson and Bill Murray. Here’s the trailer:
I kind of went into this whole thing with no expectations and I was pleasantly surprised by how cute and classic it feels. I know we’re still supposed to be mad about 2016’s Ghostbusters (the one with the ladies) and I absolutely, positively think that movie got smeared by dumbass men and racist a–holes. The sheer number of men whining about how lady Ghostbusters “ruined their childhoods” was genuinely insane. I completely understand why people are still mad about how the women were treated. I’m mad too. But I also think this looks super-cute and crowd-pleasing, like the original Ghostbusters. I also think that the OG Ghostbusters (Murray, Ackroyd, Hudson) probably have little more than glorified cameos, but who knows.
For background on the whole controversy, Jason Reitman (who directed this and co-wrote it) placated those same misogynistic d-bags and said in an interview that they’re trying to “hand the franchise back to the fans,” because apparently only dudes can ghostbust AND be fans of Ghostbusters. Leslie Jones was really pissed off about Jason Reitman basically insinuating in interviews that the “lady Ghostbusters” didn’t count, and this film takes a mulligan on the whole Ghostbusters universe. Interestingly enough, Reitman said all that and then his movie has a little girl in the gunner seat, using a proton pack. We’ll see, peeps.
Photos courtesy of ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife.’
I will see it.
Me, too! Looks like fun.
I really wanted the 2016 Ghostbusters to be good, because I think all of those ladies are funny. but it was a total mess – it just seemed like a big budget CGI broad comedy that didn’t end up being very funny. this looks good, although it doesn’t seem like it will be much of a comedy either – hard to say.
I didn’t think the last one was THAT bad, but agree that it really wasn’t very good. I don’t understand why every ghostbusters movie has to completely veer from the reality that was in the preceding one. Like, for the last one, why NOT just make it so that GBs have been busting since the 80s, and these are the current ones?
I’m also wondering–are those kids (in this new one) supposed to be egon’s?
They’re Egon’s grandkids. In the trailer they talk about how their grandpa left them the old rundown house.
Egon’s grandkids – ope, step behind MrsBanjo
Ugh, grandkids make more sense. Jeez I’m old. I didn’t hear that bit in the trailer.
Does that mean that Janine is their gram? I love that.
Agree, it just wasn’t a good movie. For all the talk of misogyny what about the racism of the only Black GB being in a labor position and not as a scientist, instead she was the wisecracking layman. Uber disappointed. And with all of that talk zero connection to the OG Ghostbuster world. Why couldn’t the women be the daughters or nieces of the original cast? Some type of tangible way to connect to the OG movies?
I agree. I liked the movie (one of the few, I guess), but we didn’t need all that set up for the ghostbusting. We know what Ghostbusters are. The arc should have just continued.
Yeah I wanted it to be great and it was ok. I enjoyed it and have re-watched it since.
Putting all that aside I’m ready to take this at face value and having watched this trailer I’m super excited to see it.
I still think they would have had a better movie if it had been a next generation scenario and not a reboot. A reboot relies to much on the previous versions. A next generation would have required more imagination and a different narrative. This movie feels like a next generation and it seems set to appeal to kids as much as the parents, who loved the original films. I’m looking forward to it.
am I the only one that really likes the Female Ghostbusters? whenever it’s on cable I watch it; I live for that “who is the flying beefcake?” scene
No, I love it too.
Same! It was great! My son and I were Ghostbusters and my hubs was Slimer that year. 😀
No, you are NOT! It’s a new classic for me.
Me too, I love the 2016 Ghostbusters movie and watch it anytime it is on.
I admit, on first viewing I did not like it, but have watched it a few times since and have grown to like it. My nieces and nephews loved it, so I gave it another chance. This one looks good too. Time for another Auntie outing.
I love it! and can I just add, I could watch Kate McKinnon read the phone book…she has such a light and energy and positivity and humor about her. Ive never seen anyone like that before. She’s amazing, so underrated. She’s also great in that Mila Kunis movie, The Spy Who Dumped Me. #katestanforever
My family loves it! And the original, which I think benefits heavily from nostalgia when it’s talked about….OG Ghostbusters is an absolutely fun, goofy, slightly spooky romp. The 2016 movie captured the same feel for me. I even went to Comic Con as Holtzmann. Neither movie is perfect, but both are great fun.
Seriously, it’s got some nifty scenes and lines. McKinnon “Holtzmanizing” ghosts with her new toys is a straight-up classic action sequence. Confronting the subway specter was a hoot (“I guess he’s going to Queens—he’s going to be the third scariest thing on that train.”). The murderous Macy’s parade. And I always get a kick out of Jones presenting the GBs with a hearse as transportation. (“I can think of seven good uses for a cadaver today?” 😈🤣 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDCz3D56xlI
Carrie Coon AND Annie Potts? I will see this.
I’m there for Paul Rudd in anything. He’s a yummy man.
You’re not the only one. I thought it was funny and fun and would watch it again. I also think this version looks good and I will probably watch it too.
It looks good but it would be very hard for me to support this film for all the reasons mentioned in the post.
For me, Paul Rudd is not the magic man he is for so many others. I barely like him and there is zero chance he can waive away the misogyny surrounding this franchise. Like, oh Paul Rudd’s in it!! SQUEEEEE then everything is all better!
Nah.
Me too. Hard pass after what Reitman said.
Reitman’s comment about wanting to “hand the franchise back to the fans” really concerns me. As a woman, I feel like there’s so many franchises where the male fanboys (aka “true fans”) are the ones who throw a fit if they aren’t catered to…so studios bend over backwards to give them what they want. It’s frustrating. I’ll be extremely disappointed if this goes the same way. I think I’ll wait on the reviews for this before making my decision.
And I thought the reboot was cute and funny. Not the best movie ever made or anything, but it didn’t deserve all the hate it got, either. I’m convinced most of the backlash was just misogyny.
Yup. Hey I’m a fan, dipshit!
I liked the female ghostbusters, I thought the ending was really bad but I mean the ending of GB2 was pretty bad too, lol. I thought they did a good job with it overall, so I found the whole “hand it back to the fans” to be really insulting. Am I not a fan? I’m an 80s baby, I love the Ghostbusters movies, the tv series, everything – and I liked the female GB, so do I not count?
👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
As much as I would like to see it, I will probably wait for it to come out on pay-per-view. I don’t see myself going into a movie theater this year.
Paul Rudd is in it so sure. I’ll watch it.
Why is this trailer treating Ghostbusters like this epic, serious legacy drama, lol? Ghostbusters is silly. Trying to give it more weight seems a bit strange to me.
I’m with you. The whole tone of the trailer seems off. Seems like they’re turning Ghostbusters into Stranger Things or Locke & Key.
I definitely thought they were trying to hook fans of Stranger Things with this trailer (but it does look good to me. Though I am also one who liked the 2016 movie and was really annoyed by all the misogyny, I’ll still likely see it)
Total stranger things vibe. I like booth those young actors though and they will carry the movie especially McKenna Grace. She’s already had a very successful career and could be the ‘next big thing’.
This looks so good I can’t wait!
I love everything to do with Ghostbusters, so I cannot wait to see this!!
Yup, seeing that. My 10 year old self full on got giggly and happy watching the trailer!
I approve. I upvote everything Paul “Look at us” Rudd.
Maybe it will even be my first theatres visit since the pandemic.
Not watching it.
The women were treated like trash, so I’m not going to spend money so hateful men can say smugly: “see, we need men to be successful”
Jason Reitman is a misogynist prick, so I’ll wait until this crap is free online. I’m not giving him a dime. Totally unnecessary redo in my opinion and so much unwarranted hate for the all female cast. I grew up watching the GB movies and I was happy to see a female cast.