Original Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman cried after seeing an early cut of the new movie, directed by his son Jason Reitman.
If Ivan Reitman is any indicator of what fans can expect from the upcoming Ghostbusters: Afterlife, then it’s going to be a hit. Speaking to Empire, Afterlife director Jason Reitman talked about his father Ivan’s emotional reaction to seeing an early screening of the film. The elder Reitman, who directed the first two Ghostbusters movies, made the journey to Sony’s lot to see a screening of the movie with his son and Sony executives in December. When it finished, he turned to son and said “I’m so proud to be your father” with tears in his eyes.
That’s a pretty solid seal of approval, particularly given how beloved the original franchise is and how close Ivan Reitman was with the cast. That Afterlife hits the mark in Ivan Reitman’s eyes says a lot, especially after the 2016 remake failed to resonate with critics and audiences.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife arrives in theaters 30 years after the release of Ghostbusters 2. It follows the story of a group of kids in Oklahoma who find some of the original Ghostbusters’ gear. Dan Ackroyd, Bill Murray and Ernie Hudson are returning for what’s being hailed as a “legacy sequel” that introduces younger characters so the legacy can continue. Having original cast members in the movie helps to build credibility.
Jason Reitman says Afterlife bridges the gap between humor and horror in the same way that made the original movies so memorable. He recalled talking about the project with Steven Spielberg, who said without preamble: “Library Ghost – top ten scares of all time.”
Ghostbusters: Afterlife is expected in theaters on June 11, 2021.
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