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What New Netflix Original Movies Are We Most Excited for in 2022?

Netflix Original Movies are beginning to develop quite a reputation for their high-quality plot lines and star-studded casts. As more of Hollywood’s biggest stars flock to the streaming network, Netflix’s upcoming movie list has grown more impressive than ever before.

So, whether you’re into comedy, drama, action, or anything in between, you’re sure to find something to look forward to on this list of new Netflix Original movies coming out in 2022.  

Netflix Original Movies For When You Want Some Action & Adventure

The gray man (july 15, 2022).

Ryan Gosling ( Drive ) and Chris Evans ( Knives Out ) star in an action-packed adventure about a skilled CIA assassin (Gosling) who accidentally uncovers some of the agency’s darkest secrets. Will Gosling’s character be able to outwit the throng of international assassins now attempting to collect the bounty on his head? Find out later this year.

Black Crab (March 18)

This Swedish post-apocalyptic thriller stars Noomi Rapace ( Prometheus, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo ) as one of a group of six speed-skating soldiers who set out on a death-defying mission. Their mission? Deliver a mysterious package, even though they have no idea what it contains — or just how much hinges on their success.

Against the Ice (March 2)

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau ( Game of Thrones ) and Joe Cole star in this action-adventure adaptation of author Ejnar Mikkelsen’s Two Against the Ice . The book itself is based on the true story of two men who braved Greenland’s harsh landscape in 1909 in search of a lost map. 

The Adam Project (March 11)

With Ryan Reynolds, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner and Zoe Saldaña, The Adam Project ‘s star-studded cast has made it one of the streaming service’s most-watched films of the year so far. The plot revolves around a time traveler (Reynolds), who crash lands back in 2022 and teams up with his younger self to save his — and the world’s — future. 

Netflix Original Movies From Big-Name Comedy Stars

Tyler perry’s a madea homecoming (february 25).

Tyler Perry’s iconic Madea character is back — and this time she’s just attempting to celebrate her great-grandson’s graduation in peace. But when family secrets begin to surface, drama brews, forcing Madea to step in and put an end to the nonsense.

Senior Year (May 13)

Rebel Wilson ( Pitch Perfect ), Alicia Silverstone ( Clueless ), Mary Holland ( Happiest Season ), Justin Hartley ( This Is Us ) and Chris Parnell ( Archer ) round out the star-studded cast of this summer comedy. In it, Wilson plays a 37-year-old woman who has recently awoken from a 20-year coma. Determined not to let the setback impact the life she dreamed of living, she decides to return to the same high school and pick up where she left off.  

Netflix Original Movies for Thriller & Mystery Lovers

Big bug (february 11).

Ever wonder what would happen if Alexa and her A.I. cohorts ever decided they’d had enough of humanity? Filmmaker Jean-Pierre Jeunet ( Amélie) explores this very question in Big Bug . Elsa Zylberstein and Isabelle Nanty star in this mind-bending thriller about a group of suburbanites who get trapped in their homes during a robot uprising.  

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Winter 2022)

In this sequel to Rian Johnson’s Knives Out , Daniel Craig returns as Detective Benoit Blanc. This time he’s off to Greece to get to the heart of a whole new mystery. Janelle Monáe , Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline and Kate Hudson are also among the members of the absolutely stacked cast . 

Choose or Die (April 15)

Iola Evans and Asa Butterfield star as two friends who unleash the horrors of an old ’80s survival game in this adrenaline-fueled thriller. Thrust into a world of deadly consequences, the “players” are forced to make a series of terrifying choices — or risk losing everything.  

Enola Holmes 2 (TBA 2022)

Millie Bobby Brown ( Stranger Things ) returns to her role as young Enola, the highly underrated little sister of Sherlock Holmes . This time, Enola is ready to take on her first official case as she unravels a dark conspiracy searching for a missing girl. Henry Cavill ( Witcher ) and Helena Bonham-Carter ( The Crown ) also reprise their respective roles in this fun-filled adventure. 

Netflix Original Movies With Drama, Drama, Drama

Operation mincemeat (may 11).

Based on an incredible true story, Operation Mincemeat stars Colin Firth ( Kingsman series) and Matthew Macfadyen ( Succession ) as two British intelligence officers during World War II. In an effort to thwart Hitler and save thousands of lives, the two come up with a plan that’s so outlandish it just might work.  

A Jazzman’s Blues (TBA 2022)

Set in the deep South, A Jazzman’s Blues is based on the first screenplay Tyler Perry ever wrote — over two decades ago. The family drama follows the investigation of an unsolved murder, which, in turn, uncovers secrets, lies and forbidden love, all set against a blues backdrop. 

Along for the Ride (April 22)

Based on Sarah Dessen’s young adult (YA) novel of the same name, Along for the Ride stars Emma Pasarow, Kate Bosworth and Andie MacDowell. The story follows a teenager named Auden (Pasarow), who meets a fellow insomniac the summer before leaving for college. As the two explore the small seaside town Auden’s father moved to with his new wife, our sheltered protagonist starts to loosen up and enjoy life. 

Netflix Original Movies for Sci-Fi & Fantasy Fans

Bubble (april 28).

If you’re an anime fan, be sure to check out Tetsurō Araki’s new film — set in a version of Tokyo that’s overrun by gravity-defying bubbles. The city is something of a parkour battleground for teams who use the bubbles to pull off stunts that would impress even Spider-Man . When a young man named Hibiki meets a girl with otherworldly powers, the two embark on a journey to understand the mysterious sound that only they seem to hear. 

The School for Good and Evil (September 2022)

Charlize Theron ( The Old Guard ), Kerry Washington ( Little Fires Everywhere ), Laurence Fishburne ( The Matrix ) Ben Kingsley ( Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings ) and Everything Everywhere All at Once star Michelle Yeoh are just some of the incredible actors bringing this adaptation of Soman Chainani’s best-selling YA fantasy series to life. 

For those who don’t know, the story centers on two best friends, Sophie and Agatha, who find themselves enrolled in a magical school for young heroes and villains. Soon after, they end up on opposing sides of the war between good and evil. 

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (TBA 2022)

When word got out that Guillermo del Toro was making a stop-motion animated version of Pinocchio, pretty much half of Hollywood signed on to the cast. The ensemble includes folks like Finn Wolfhard ( Stranger Things ), Ewan McGregor ( Obi-Wan Kenobi ), Tilda Swinton ( Suspira ), Cate Blanchett ( Carol ), Ron Perlman ( Hellboy ) and more.

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'Ghostbusters: Afterlife': All the Original Cast, Crew & Ghosts That Returned for the New Sequel

Who you gonna call? The original 'Ghostbusters' cast and crew of course!

After thirty years of waiting for a proper Ghostbusters sequel, director Jason Reitman has brought us Ghostbusters: Afterlife . The film tells the story of the late Egon Spengler’s ( Harold Ramis ) daughter, Callie ( Carrie Coon ), and her two children, Trevor ( Finn Wolfhard ) and Phoebe ( Mckenna Grace ) as they move to Egon’s rural farmland home in middle-of-nowhere Summerville, Oklahoma, only to learn that Egon was actually protecting the world from a mysterious supernatural force. While it’s technically the fourth Ghostbusters film (if we count the 2016 reboot), most consider it the “true third” as it’s one part nostalgia, one part sequel, and one part coming-of-age comedy.

That said, much to the excitement of the Ghostbusters fanbase, there are plenty of cast, crew, and ghosts that have returned for Afterlife . Some you might know, some might shock you, but regardless, you know who you’re gonna call.

Be warned! If you haven’t seen Ghostbusters: Afterlife there are MAJOR SPOILERS ahead…

Producer - Ivan Reitman

Original Ghostbusters director and producer Ivan Reitman has been with the series since its beginning. After directing the first two features (with small voice cameo roles), he directed comedy films such as Twins , Kindergarten Cop , Evolution , and My Super Ex-Girlfriend . His final directorial feature, Draft Day , was released in 2014. Reitman didn’t completely excuse himself from the Ghostbusters franchise though as he was originally set to direct a third Ghostbusters outing back in the day. After those plans died out and Sony decided to go a different direction, he ended up settling as a co-producer (and had a cameo) on the 2016 reboot.

After working on the announced-but-unrealized animated series, Ghostbusters: Ecto Force , and an unmade animated Ghostbusters feature film, Reitman returned as the sole producer for the official third installment of the classic series. On Afterlife , he also served as one of the body doubles for original Ghostbuster Dr. Egon Spengler to honor the late Harold Ramis.

Writer/Director - Jason Reitman

The son of original Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman, Jason Reitman followed in his father’s footsteps as a filmmaker. The director of cult classics Thank You For Smoking , Juno , and Up In The Air , and even two episodes of The Office , Reitman grew up on set and actually has a small cameo as the “Brownstone Boy #2” in Ghostbusters II , which earns him a spot here. According to Bill Murray , the young Reitman was somewhat of a pain while on the set of the second Ghostbusters , which Dan Aykroyd attributes to him being a director even “back then.”

When Sony decided to try again with Ghostbusters after Paul Feig ’s box office bomb, Reitman and Gil Kenan penned the script to Ghostbusters: Afterlife , with Reitman taking his father’s place in the director's chair. Their script was praised by both Murray and Aykroyd, with the latter (who co-wrote/created the original films) even calling it “beautiful” and “heartfelt” .

Dr. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray)

The original Ghostbuster himself, Dr. Peter Venkman returns in Ghostbusters: Afterlife to help the Spengler's defeat Gozer. The last time we saw Venkman was 30 years prior in Ghostbusters II when he and his fellow Ghostbusters had defeated the demonic Vigo the Carpathian ( Wilhelm von Homburg ) after he attempted to possess Dana Barrett’s ( Sigourney Weaver ) infant son, Oscar. In Afterlife , it’s mentioned that Venkman, now married to Dana, is currently a “Professor of Advertising,” having returned to teaching after Egon Spengler stole the Ectomobile and the majority of their ghost-busting equipment to run off to Summerville.

Bill Murray, who famously refused to commit to a sequel for years, returns as Peter Venkman for two scenes in the film, once during the climax to help defeat Gozer, and again mid-credits when he returns home to New York City with Dana. In the mid-credits scene, Dana uses the same ESP cards and shock machine on Venkman that he once used on college girls in the 1984 film.

Dr. Ray Stanz (Dan Aykroyd)

When last we officially saw Dr. Ray Stanz, he was busting ghosts in Ghostbusters II , but after his brief cameo in the 1995 film Casper , it seems like he’s given up on the ghost-busting dream. In Afterlife , Phoebe uses her one phone call in jail to call the Ghostbusters hotline, which re-directs to Ray’s Occult Books (which Ray ran back in Ghostbusters II ). Here we learn that, after Egon stole their ghost-busting equipment, the team quickly fell apart. Ray mentions that Egon tried to reach out about ten years back to convince him about an apocalyptic event, but he ignored Egon’s warnings, telling her that “Egon Spengler can burn in Hell.”

By the end of the film, Ray has a change of heart and returns with Venkman and Winston Zeddemore ( Ernie Hudson ) to defeat Gozer for good, this time answering “yes” to her question of whether or not he’s a god. Actors Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis were the original creators of Ghostbusters and wrote the first two films in the series. Aykroyd also served as an executive producer on Ghostbusters: Afterlife .

Dr. Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis)

Possibly the most important character in the film, Dr. Egon Spengler is the catalyst for the events of Ghostbusters: Afterlife . After we witness his sacrificial death in the film’s opening moments, we learn that 30 years ago he stole the Ghostbusters’ equipment, left his family, and moved to Summerville, OK to try to stop a coming apocalypse. After his death, Egon becomes a ghost who helps (and inspires) Phoebe as she answers the call of a Ghostbuster. By the film’s end, Egon helps his granddaughter and former teammates finally defeat Gozer for good, giving him one last chance to make amends and say goodbye to his friends and family.

Although Harold Ramis passed away in 2014, the film manages to respectfully digitally recreate Ramis’ likeness as Egon Spengler, with Ivan Reitman and Bob Gunton serving as body doubles for his character. It’s a truly nice touch that not only is honorable to Ramis but to the character of Egon Spengler as well. The film is also dedicated to Ramis, signed “for Harold” as the credits roll.

RELATED: Exploring the Long, Difficult Road to Making 'Ghostbusters 3'

Dr. Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson)

Iconic fourth Ghostbuster Dr. Winston Zeddemore (yes, he’s a doctor now) also returns in Ghostbusters: Afterlife and, out of all the returning cast, his life has changed the most drastically. Crediting his work with the Ghostbusters as the push he needed, Winston earned his doctorate, started a global enterprise, and is now a family man. He also returns with Peter Venkman and Ray Stanz in the film’s climax, proving critical in the defeat of the Gozerian.

After the credits, Winston returns the Ecto-1 back to New York and purchases their original firehouse headquarters back from Starbucks, implying a possible future return. It would be great to see Ernie Hudson as Dr. Winston Zeddemore again someday, and the film seems to imply that, if a sequel to Afterlife were made, Winston could be the new Ghostbusters’ mentor, similar to Egon’s role in the sequel cartoon series Extreme Ghostbusters .

Janine Melnitz (Annie Potts)

After 30 years since being the Ghostbusters’ secretary (and a Ghostbuster herself if The Real Ghostbusters and Extreme Ghostbusters are to be believed), Janine Melnitz ( Annie Potts ) returns to inform the bereaved Spengler family about the debt they’d inherit from Egon upon his death. While she doesn’t appear for long in Afterlife , it’s clear from her end-credits conversation with Winston that she still harbors feelings for the departed Egon, even after all these years.

While it’s a matter of speculation whether or not Janine could be Callie Spengler’s real mother (and unfortunately the film provides no answers), it’s clear that Janine has remained faithful to the Ghostbusters, and Egon himself, still doing her best to “keep the lights on.”

Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver)

Last we saw Dana Barrett in Ghostbusters II , it was implied that Dana and Peter Venkman had rekindled their relationship after the Ghostbusters saved her son, and Ghostbusters: Afterlife confirmed that suspicion. While Sigourney Weaver only appears briefly as Dana in a mid-credits scene, her moments with Venkman, using his own ESP shock machine against him, prove that she’s the same Dana we knew and loved from the originals.

There are plenty of other allusions to Dana throughout the film as well, especially when Zuul takes possession of Callie Spengler, reciting the familiar “there is no Dana, only Zuul” line with an updated twist. We also learn where Dana’s change of clothing came from in the 1984 film as Zuul magically shifts Callie’s outfit into a golden dress before reuniting with the Keymaster.

Ivo Shandor (J.K. Simmons)

Mentioned in the original Ghostbusters as the Gozer worshipper who built Dana Barrett’s original New York apartment building, 1920s Gozer cult leader Ivo Shandor ( J.K. Simmons ) makes his first live-action appearance here. It’s revealed that in Summerville’s mountainous Gozer temple Shandor had his deceased body encased (much like the dead bishops and popes in the Vatican) to prevent decomposition so he could be resurrected at Gozer’s return.

However, Gozer had different plans as she quickly rips Shandor straight in half before he can hardly get a word out. While his return might not be terribly exciting, it’s an impressive Ghostbusters deep-cut that serves as a neat nod to the original film and Ghostbusters: The Game (written in part based on Aykroyd and Ramis’ original treatment for a third Ghostbusters ) in which Shandor appeared as the primary villain.

Gozer the Gozerian (Olivia Wilde)

Speaking of the original film, original Ghostbusters protagonist Gozer the Gozerian (played to perfection by an uncredited Olivia Wilde ) returns as the eventual “big bad” behind the Summerville quakes. Gozer is scarier here than she was in her initial appearance, creating a cyclone of spirit energy and even using the Ghostbusters’ crossed-streams against them. More powerful, and more vengeful, Gozer proves to be the Ghostbusters’ ultimate antagonist.

Familiar lines, such as “Are you a god?”, recur in Afterlife , but there are a few updates to Gozer’s schtick as well. Gozer’s mountainous temple in the Shandorian mine is a serious upgrade from the limited special effects of the 1984 original. Her doorway to the underworld, which looks like a direct portal to Hell, is incredibly terrifying and becomes the catalyst for Egon’s abrupt move to Summerville in the first place.

Stay-Puft Marshmallow Men

In the original Ghostbusters , Gozer asked the team to choose the form of their destroyer, only for Ray to think of the classic Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man. Afterward, a 50-foot tall version appeared to decimate New York City before the Ghostbusters blew it up. A ghostly Marshmallow Man even appeared briefly in the 2016 remake but didn’t last terribly long.

Here in Ghostbusters: Afterlife , thousands of Mini-Marshmallow Men appear in Summerville and take over the local Wal-Mart completely. These Marshmallow Men return in the climax to destroy Trevor and Podcast’s ( Logan Kim ) proton-packs before Podcast can get them running again. As cute as they are, they’re pretty mean…

Vinz Clortho the Keymaster and Zuul the Gatekeeper

The Terror Dogs from the 1984 film, Vinz Clortho the Keymaster and Zuul the Gatekeeper originally possessed Louis Tully ( Rick Moranis ) and Dana Barrett during Gozer’s first attempt to conquer humanity. After the Gozerian’s defeat, the Ghostbusters rescued Louis and Dana from the burnt-to-a-crisp corpses of the Terror Dogs. While it seemed like we had seen the last of Vinz Clortho and Zuul, it’s much harder to kill a ghost than that.

In Ghostbusters: Afterlife , one of the Terror Dogs is seen stalking and even attacking Egon in the film’s opening moments, leading to his death. Later on, the Keymaster and the Gatekeeper possess Phoebe’s teacher Gary Grooberson ( Paul Rudd ), and her mom Callie. Their union opens the way for Gozer’s return. Although Phoebe and her Ghostbusters manage to trap Zuul, Gozer frees her loyal servant who then possesses Lucky ( Celeste O’Connor ), but only until the original Ghostbusters arrive and help take down Gozer for good.

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Ghostbusters: Are any of the original film’s cast members in the reboot?

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Ghostbusters: Afterlife is set to bring the franchise to a whole new generation – but there’s plenty of nostalgia for fans of the originals.

Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard of Stranger Things fame and McKenna Grace star in the new supernatural comedy, with a new gang discovering the Ectomobile and uncovering a ghost trap.

Wolfhard and Grace play the children of Coon’s character, who moves her family to Summerville, where we discover that she is the daughter of Egon Spengler (the late Harold Ramis).

Ramis, who died in 2014, posthumously appears in the film via archive footage, but he isn’t the only original Ghostbuster who appears in Afterlife.

Dr Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Dr Raymond ‘Ray’ Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), Dr Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson), Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver) and Janine Melntiz (Annie Potts) all appear in the movie at some point.

The Ghostbusters team all return to assist the Spengler family, while Potts appears in two scenes in the movie.

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Meanwhile, Weaver can be seen in a mid-credits scene.

In another sweet connection to the originals, Jason Reitman directs Afterlife, after his father Ivan Reitman directed 1984’s Ghostbusters and its 1989 sequel.

There were talks to have a third sequel, but discussion stalled following Ramis’s death.

A 2016 sequel which focused on four female Ghostbusters, played by Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones, received backlash and was a box office bomb.

The original cast also made cameos in the reboot, but not as their original characters. Murray played a paranormal debunker, Aykroyd played a taxi driver, Hudson played Leslie Jones’ character’s uncle, Weaver played Kate McKinnon’s character’s mentor, and Potts played a hotel receptionist.

Ghosbusters: Afterlife is in cinemas now.

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Original Ghostbusters cast will reunite for London based sequel to 1980s classic

Ghostbusters original stars Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver and Dan Ackroyd will reunite in London to film the third new Ghostbusters film codenamed Firehouse

• 09:36, 25 Jan 2023

The original cast Ghostbusters are set to reunite for a new sequel.

Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver and Dan Ackroyd are among the cast of the reboot of the 1980s classic.

Ghostbusters has always been set in New York, but the new movie will film in London - playing on the historical past of the city.

The new movie is expected to begin shooting in the UK this March.

The original stars will make cameos in the film that focuses on a fresh cast of ghost hunters.

The late Harold Ramis died in 2014 but was brought back digitally as Egon Spengler for Ghostbusters: Afterlife in 2021.

A source told The Sun: “Studio bosses are taking a classic franchise, setting it in a new location but keeping the magic of the original. It’s going to be brilliant.”

Getting the original stars interested in the remake reportedly "wasn't difficult" as they love the originals.

The original hit became the highest-grossing comedy ever and was nominated for two Oscars and earned around $300 million worldwide.

The new film is codenamed Firehouse and is directed by Gil Kenan with co-writer and producer Jason Reitman, and cinematographer Eric Steelbergand.

The forthcoming sequel is expected to pick up following the events of 2021 film Afterlife.

Speaking at Ghostbusters Day last year, Reitman said: “We’re writing another movie. Tonight, we’re going to share the code name for the next chapter in the Spengler family story.

“The last time we saw Ecto-1, it was driving back into Manhattan: the home of Ghostbusters. That’s where our story begins. The code name is FIREHOUSE.”

Ghostbusters the gender-flipped reboot of 2016 starred Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones as the ghoul hunters with Dan Aykroyd making a cameo and Chris Hemsworth playing the good-looking receptionist.

In 2021 Ghostbusters: Afterlife went back to its roots with Oscar-nominated Jason Reitman writing and directing. Dad Ivan directed both 1 and 2.

Original crew Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Sigourney Weaver starred with a group of teens led by Finn Wolfhard, of Netflix series Stranger Things.

Little else is known about the plot of the upcoming film at this stage, or the official title.

Meanwhile, a new Ghostbusters animated series is in the works for Netflix.

This series is the third animated Ghostbusters television show and follows The Real Ghostbusters, which aired for 140 episodes from 1986-1991 and Extreme Ghostbusters which was released in 1997.

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Screen Rant

Why the original ghostbusters are only in afterlife for one scene.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife only features the original team for one scene due to the film being a legacy sequel rather than a direct sequel.

Despite being featured separately throughout the film, the original Ghostbusters from 1984 only share one scene together in  Ghostbusters: Afterlife . Afterlife is a film that serves to honor the legacy of the original two  Ghostbusters movies rather than a direct sequel. As such, Ghostbusters :  Afterlife puts its focus primarily on the new cast and the next generation. However, the original Ghostbusters still get their time to shine together near the film's conclusion.

Throughout  Ghostbusters: Afterlife , each of the original Ghostbusters gets an individual spotlight. The late Harold Ramis gets the most screentime as the ghost of Egon Spengler, helping his family finish the job he and his team started 30 years prior. Dan Aykroyd's Ray Stantz features when Spengler's granddaughter Phoebe calls his occult bookshop, wanting to learn more about why the original Ghostbusters broke up. Bill Murray's Peter Venkman and Ernie Husdon's Winston Zeddemore also feature in Ghostbusters:   Afterlife's  two post-credits scenes. Venkman spends time with Sigourney Weaver's Dana, while Winston is seen talking with Annite Potts' Janine Melnitz about potentially restoring the Ghostbusters' old firehouse.

Related:  Ghostbusters: Why Rick Moranis Didn't Return In Afterlife

The original Ghostbusters do eventually reunite in the final confrontation against Gozer, suiting up with their proton packs and crossing their streams as they help Egon Spengler's family and their friends defeat the evil god for good. It's a satisfying send-off, and the scene pays a nice tribute to Harold Ramis' original character – but the Ghostbusters reunion only works so well because it's only a single scene at the film's end. The original Ghostbusters are only in one scene of  Ghostbusters: Afterlife and it was the right thing to do.

Why The Original Ghostbusters Are Only In One Scene In Afterlife

Egon Spengler's family is much more central to the plot than the original Ghostbusters cast, as it sees them discovering who Egon was and the unfulfilled mission he left behind for them. Ghostbusters:  Afterlife is all about legacy. Seeing these new characters take up the mantle is stirring stuff – particularly in the case of Egon's granddaughter, Phoebe (Mckenna Grace), who sees much of herself in her grandfather. Phoebe's brother Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and their friends Podcast (Logan Kim) and Lucky (Celeste O'Connor) all shine while forming a brand new team to fight  Gozer the Gozerian . No character is meant to look or act like the original Ghostbusters, which is the right choice. Trying to tie the new Ghostbusters too closely to those bygone would've muddied the plot and fueled accusations that  Ghostbusters: Afterlife  is just an updated rehash of the original series.

Why Afterlife Was Right To Limit The Original Ghostbusters' Screentime

Anything more than  Afterlife's  single concluding team-up scene would have distracted from the new cast and the primary focus of the plot, which is less about the original Ghostbusters and more about what they left behind. Other people looking to do their own ghostbusting have embraced the legacy of the original team.  Ghostbusters: Afterlife  is a legacy sequel in the truest sense, with the original Ghostbusters showing up just long enough to pass the torch to the next generation. Otherwise, the original Ghostbusters' presence would've overshadowed the new Ghostbusters, and the legacy sequel would've descended into fan service, cheapening the new Ghostbusters' journeys. The story of  Ghostbusters: Afterlife  is meant to carry on the franchise  as a whole, which can't happen while the movies keep looking to the past for nostalgia's sake.

Related:  What The Original Ghostbusters 3 Would've Looked Like (& Why It Didn't Happen)

While Ghostbusters: Afterlife  certainly has its flaws, it's a blueprint for how to handle a legacy sequel in terms of balancing original and new characters. The inclusion of the single scene with the original Ghostbusters team is such a satisfying payoff at the film's end. While that single scene is used to great effect as they come together to help the new team ( including Egon's ghost ), it doesn't overshadow the newcomers' efforts in  Ghostbusters: Afterlife .

Next:  Afterlife's Deleted 1990s Ghostbuster Movie Gag Made Its Story More Tragic

Entertainment

The Original 'Ghostbusters' Cast Is Back

It's almost time for four female comedians to ruin the childhoods of insecure men-children! That's right, the Ghostbusters reboot featuring an all-female ghostbusting team is finally hitting theaters, and while some bitter fans of the original are still planning on dragging their feet to see the new movie, others have jumped on board. When the all-women Ghostbusters reboot was first announced, it was met with a huge amount of backlash. Now that the movie is about to be released, that backlash has lessened a little, and one thing that probably helped skeptics go from haters to movie-goers is the fact that a lot of the actors from the first movie are said to be returning to the franchise. But just which original cast members are in Ghostbusters ? I've got the list right here.

The Ghostbusters reboot managed to recruit almost all of the original cast members, save for Harold Ramis (Egon Spengler), who died in 2014, and Rick Moranis (Louis Tully) who chose not to return to focus on future projects. New Ghostbusters director Paul Feig and cast members Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones have been careful not to spill too much information on the original cast's roles in the reboot . Appearances by Ernie Hudson and Sigourney Weaver have been confirmed, while other members of the original cast have danced around their involvement in the reboot . Here's what we know about the original cast members returning to Ghostbusters .

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1. Bill Murray AKA Peter Venkman

Murray is set to make a cameo appearance in the Ghostbusters reboot . The famously picky and private actor has even made appearances to promote the film , suggesting his whole-hearted involvement. It's been rumored that all returning cast members will be playing all new characters, so who Murray will appear as is anybody's guess.

2. Dan Aykroyd (Raymond Stantz)

Aykroyd was the first original cast member to get involved in the Ghostbusters reboot , and seemed the most eager to appear in the movie. His cameo was reportedly revealed in a clip shown during CinemaCon in April. I won't spoil the details for you here except to say that Aykroyd delivers an iconic Ghostbusters line. If you want to be thoroughly spoiled, you can check out the description here .

3. Sigourney Weaver (Dana Barrett)

Weaver's cameo in the Ghostbusters reboot was confirmed in a tweet from Feig . Though he wanted to keep news of Weaver's involvement a secret, when he saw that the news was about to leak, Feig beat the tabloids to the punch, writing, "The awesome Sigourney Weaver is going to be in our movie!"

4. Ernie Hudson (Winston Zeddmore)

Despite knocking the idea of an all-female reboot when it was first announced — "I love the idea of including women, I think that's great. But all-female I think would be a bad idea," Hudson told The Telegraph in 2014 — Hudson will appear in the film . He was spotted on set towards the end of production, and has been a supporter of the movie since the cast was announced.

5. Annie Potts (Janine Melnitz)

Potts is, according to The Boston Herald , returning to Ghostbusters not as a receptionist (she's been replaced by Chris Hemsworth), but as a hotel clerk. Details of Potts' cameo, as well as those of Aykroyd and Hudson, seems to confirm the theory that none of the returning cast members are reprising their roles.

It's possible other familiar faces will pop up throughout the film — some cameos could have been successfully kept secret. We'll just have to wait and see.

Images: Columbia Pictures; Giphy (5)

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

When a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind. When a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind. When a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.

• Jason Reitman
• Dan Aykroyd
• Carrie Coon
• Finn Wolfhard
• 1.9K User reviews
• 325 Critic reviews
• 45 Metascore
• See more at IMDbPro
• 1 win & 21 nominations total

• Peter Venkman

• Winston Zeddemore

• Janine Melnitz

• Dana Barrett

• The Ghost Farmer (Egon Spengler)

• Ivo Shandor

• Sheriff Domingo
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

• Trivia Dedicated to Harold Ramis , who died in 2014.
• Goofs One character yells during the showdown that they're using "billions of electron volts" to bust Gozer. An electron volt is the energy of an electron. Billions of eV are still less than the kinetic energy of a fly.

Trevor : Hey, remember that summer when we all died under a table?

• Crazy credits There are a mid-credits and post-credits scenes.
• Connections Featured in Geeks + Gamers: Male Feminist and SJWs Hate The New Ghostbusters Trailer (2019)
• Soundtracks Ghostbusters Original Themes By Elmer Bernstein

User reviews 1.9K

• Nov 20, 2021
• How long is Ghostbusters: Afterlife? Powered by Alexa
• Will this be a sequel to the 2016 'Ghostbusters' film?
• Will Rick Moranis be in the movie?
• Where is Oscar?
• November 19, 2021 (United States)
• United States
• Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• Columbia Pictures
• BRON Studios
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $75,000,000 (estimated)
• $129,360,575
• $44,008,406
• Nov 21, 2021
• $204,334,455

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 4 minutes
• Dolby Atmos

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