Afterlife pays homage to Ramis (Ghostbuster Egon Spengler), who died in 2014. Spengler’s progeny—a daughter played by CarrieCoon and her two children (FinnWolfhard and MckennaGrace)—move into a dilapidated farmhouse bequeathed to them by the late Egon. Soon strange things, including earthquakes, start happening in their new small town of Somerville, Oklahoma, and the curious kids must unearth Grandpa Egon’s past. Joining them is PaulRudd, playing teacher and budding seismologist Mr. Grooberson. Rudd, 52, grew up watching Saturday Night Live and was thrilled to work with Aykroyd, whom he calls comedy royalty. “I got the script and of course I had to do it,” he says. “I’m still pinching myself. Sketches like ‘The Bass-o-matic’ and ‘The Bag o’ Glass’ live on in our subconscious, and then you think of The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters and the dramatic work he did in [1989’s] Driving Miss Daisy. The guy can do it all!” That guy who can do it all didn’t think the original Ghostbusters would be a smash. Aykroyd, 69, recalls that halfway through production, Murray (who took the role of Peter Venkman after JohnBelushi died in 1982) stopped by for lunch and gave an inkling of what may be in store. “We’re eating sandwiches and Billy says to me, ‘You know that you’ve written what might be one of the greatest and largest comedies of all time,’” Aykroyd says. “That’s nice to hear, but I never took it to heart.” Cut to the summer of 1984, when the film was tops at the box-office for seven consecutive weeks and spawned a No. 1 theme song, toys, ghost-emblazoned T-shirts and an animated series.
A new slime time
A Ghostbusters sequel with a fresh story and new and original players? Aykroyd never thought he’d see this day. “It was completely unanticipated,” he says of the new film. “But Jason took our reputation and the value of Ghostbusters to a completely new level. It’s a story that works on the page and works on the screen just beautifully. I think this is going to be big, and if I’m wrong, then I’m going to throw away 35 years of experience in the comedy business.” When you’re dealing with a movie that’s so iconic, you want to be respectful, says director Jason Reitman (Juno, Up in the Air, Tully). “I showed the screenplay to Bill, Dan, Ernie, Sigourney and the family of Harold Ramis and the feedback we got was that they loved it. That was more important than anything.” Jason, 44, was actually on set when his dad directed the original. “I remember when they dumped marshmallow on WilliamAtherton [playing EPA inspector Walter Peck]. I remember some of the special-effects tests, and I was there for the recording of the original score. It was one of the first moments where I fell in love with the movies.” Ivan Reitman (Stripes, Twins, Dave), 75, one of the new film’s producers, was often on his son’s set as well. “I’m the first director to complete a film with my father sitting next to me,” Jason jokes. Both hope the new movie resonates with the audience. “Of all the films that I’ve done, Ghostbusters has hung on the most in the largest way. So many people identify with it. It’s astounding,” says Ivan. Jason agrees. “For a lot of people, the original was the first horror movie and most important comedy they ever saw as kids, and it was their introduction to science fiction,” he says. “It touches on so many genres and it becomes part of your language.” If you’re not a Ghostbusters fan yet, the new movie also stands alone, says Rudd. “You don’t have to have history with the franchise to enjoy this movie. But there’s something reassuring and magical because of all those connections back to the original. You do feel a certain level of gratification,” he says. Rudd and Aykroyd also credit a familial feeling on set as an ingredient for movie magic. “You can’t underestimate the value of unqualified collaboration,” Aykroyd says. “You go to a set and you introduce yourself and you involve everybody. It’s what makes good art and commerce. Nothing can be pulled off without teamwork, whether you’re at a nuclear plant or on an airplane or working on an oil rig. As human beings, we have to be able to work together.” Rudd agrees: “I have learned that it’s nice when you can surround yourself with people who are funnier, talented and nicer than you. If you’re going into a project with a need to shine brighter than everyone else, your career can be short-lived.” And in comedy especially, “You’re relying on everybody else to be funny. And when people are pleasant and enjoying themselves, it tends to show. I don’t believe it’s true that you have to have a grueling or punishing experience to make something good.” And when the spirit is right, that something can be great. “To do this for a living?” Aykroyd exclaims. “Oh, my God, to write a scene—‘Blues Mobile jumps swing bridge’—and then show up and have them to do it? To do a Ghostbusters movie? It’s a wonderful, wonderful business. There’s no life like being on a film set with your family and your friends. It’s just the best, right?”
Original Ghostbusters trivia
—Those mysterious tones that foreshadow something’s going to happen? They’re produced by an ondes martenot, an old French electronic keyboard. CynthiaMillar performed on it for the original movie and for the opening of the new film. She recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London. —“Egon” was the first name of a Hungarian exchange student at Ramis’ Chicago elementary school. “Spengler” comes from German historian and philosopher OswaldSpengler. —Sigourney Weaver reportedly snarled like a dog to prove to director Ivan Reitman that she could pull off acting possessed. —What constituted the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man’s goo in 1984? More than 50 gallons of shaving cream! —Many lines were ad-libbed, like, “We came, we saw, we kicked its ass.” —Murray’s Peter Venkman —For Ghostbusters, exteriors were shot at the New York Public Library. Other scenes were shot around the city—Lincoln Center, Central Park West, Columbia University, while interiors were shot at the Los Angeles Public Library. —For Ghostbusters: Afterlife, exteriors were shot in Horsethief Canyon, the Drumheller water tower and on highways 570 and 848. Interiors were shot in and around Calgary, Alberta, including the Deerfoot City Walmart, the Apple Pie Cafe in Beiseker and Macleod’s Java Shop. Grandpa Egon’s barn was a set constructed in Canada. —Everything on costume designer TheoniAldredge’s 1984 jumpsuits served a purpose, Aykroyd said, including the clear plastic hoses, which were for “incontinence due to fear.” —That Slimer floating around the chandelier in the ballroom? That’s a peanut spray-painted green. —Ghost Blasters? It just doesn’t have the same ring. Other potential names for the movie: Ghost Smashers, Ghost Chasers and Ghost Stoppers.
Ghostbusters actor switches
—Instead of Ernie Hudson, Winston Zeddemore could have been… EddieMurphy? But he couldn’t get out of his Beverly Hills Cop contract. —Instead of Bill Murray, Peter Venkman could have been…John Belushi? MichaelKeaton? ChevyChase? Sadly, Belushi died before filming began and Murray won out over the others. —Instead of Harold Ramis, Egon Spengler could have been…ChristopherWalken? JeffGoldblum? JohnLithgow? ChristopherLloyd? —Instead of Annie Potts, secretary Janine Melnitz could have been…SandraBernhard? —Instead of RickMoranis, accountant Louis Tully could have been…JohnCandy?
In Ghostbusters: Afterlife, watch for…
—An old black-and-white photo of the original ghostbusters foursome —A new ghost-trapping contraption called an R.T.V. (remote trap vehicle) —Muncher (he looks like a blue relative of Slimer) —Stay Pufts (they seem to have shrunk—and multiplied!) —That Nestle Crunch bar —The Ghost Trap (is that what’s under Grandpa Egon’s floor?) —The Ecto-1 (it’s had some upgrades) —P.K.E. Meter (that thing that measures psychokinetic energy) —The scary sky special effects (they look like they’re from the original movie because they are!) Next, Paul Rudd, From Anchorman to Ant-Man, on His New Role as Ghostbuster in Ghostbusters: Afterlife
