Ecto-1 returns in ghostbusters afterlife trailer
Ecto-1

Rebooting classics can be a tricky business, especially for classics such as Ghostbusters. Several people threw around ideas until it was decided an all female cast would relaunch the franchise. It bombed. It relied on heavy handed PC and demonstrated it knew nothing of the proper comedy that made the original so popular. Now Dan Aykroyd and Jason Reitman are relaunching the franchise a generation later. Here is the first trailer for Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Ghostbusters: Afterlife – The Next Generation

It appears this relaunch will pick up two generations after the original 80’s story with the grandchild of one of the original Ghostbusters. Who the grandpa is we do not know, but if one watches the first movie, we have to assume its Dr Stantz played by Dan Aykroyd. Although given the look of Finn and the fact Egon’s actor, Harold Ramis, died, the kid might belong to the Spengler family.

The grandson, played by It/Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard, relocates to an abandoned farm where he stumbles upon some of the old ghost busting equipment used 40 years prior. Paul Rudd appears to be a teacher/adviser on the old ways. Convenient as spooks and specters begin terrorizing the small town. The next generation of kids grab Ecto-1 and mayhem ensues.

Stellar Cast Old and New

Paul Rudd
Paul Rudd with an Ecto trap

The Ghostbusters: Afterlife trailer sports an awesome new cast and yet fails to show the half of it. Joining the cast for the first time are stars like Paul Rudd, Finn Wolfhard and Carrie Coon. However, if you look at the casting sheet, every living member of the original Ghostbusters returns for this reboot, save Rick Moranis and the late Harold Ramis.

We do not see much, and what we do see can be misleading (Transformers: The Last Knight) as far as quality, but the chemistry and early story look incredible. This may not be the fun comedy romp of the original. One can bet there will be plenty of laughs given who is involved, but the action looks amazing. No one knows the story better than Dan Aykroyd.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife Trailer – Plenty of New Fun in Old Ways

Movies like this will introduce plenty of new ghosts, goblins and undead terror, but one can safely bet we will see old favorites return. I would be shocked if Slimer does not reappear at some point in the new movie. I’d swear the paw and leg that come crashing down on the car hood (2:00) looks an awful lot like the leg of one of the demon dogs from the first movie.

While trailers can be very misleading, this trailer looks good. I am excited to see what this movie will bring. Can it indeed relaunch the franchise where the last remake failed?

Ghostbusters: Afterlife opens July 10, 2020.