Finn Wolfhard says Ghostbusters: Afterlife takes a really faithful approach to the original movie. After three decades of trying and failing to get off the ground, an official Ghosbusters 3 is finally happening. Directed by Juno and Up in the Air filmmaker Jason Reitman (son of Ghostbusters I & II helmer Ivan), the movie follows a single mom and her two kids as they move to a small town where they discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters – and just in time to deal with a newly-emerged paranormal threat. Titled Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the movie will serve as a continuation of the 1984 Ghostbusters and its sequel while ignoring the reboot released in 2016.
In addition to announcing the title and releasing its first-look images, Sony dropped an official trailer for Afterlife last December. The preview immediately drew comparisons to not only The Force Awakens with its emphasis on legacy, but also Stranger Things thanks to its teen leads battling fantastical monsters – including Wolfhard, who even stars on the hit Netflix series – and nostalgia for the ’80s. According to Wolfhard, though, Afterlife wants to do right by fans both new and old with its approach.
Speaking to NME, Wolfhard said older Ghostbusters fans will find Afterlife takes “a really, really faithful approach to the series” and the original 1984 movie. As for younger people new to the franchise, the actor said they will find “first and foremost, Ghostbusters is about family and the relationships that these people have made.”
While Wolfhard told NME Afterlife is “also really funny”, that hasn’t really come through in the marketing so far. Whereas the 1984 Ghostbusters was very much a comedy with some scary elements, the Afterlife trailer strikes more of a serious tone closer to Jason Reitman’s previous work (which has often featured an equal blend of comedy and drama). There are glimpses of humor, though, including Paul Rudd as a teacher who helps Wolfhard’s character and his sister (Mckenna Grace) in the movie. Similarly, with Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Sigourney Weaver among those reprising their iconic roles from the 1984 Ghostbusters, it stands to reason Afterlife will have its fair share of laughs to go with its ghost-bustin’ thrills.
That said, Wolfhard’s comment about Afterlife‘s focus on family and relationships is arguably more interesting than his claim about it being really “faithful”. It’s believed the film will address Ghostbusters co-creator and Egon Spengler actor Harold Ramis’ passing in the real world by making Wolfhard and Grace’s characters his grandchildren. Should that prove to be the case, it would add a deeper layer of meaning and poignance to not only the movie’s story, but also the return of Ramis’ still-living costars without him. Who knows: Afterlife may even wind up making some longtime Ghostbusters fans cry (for the right reasons, that is).
Key Release Dates
Ghostbusters: Afterlife
Release Date:2021-11-19
