Considering that ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ isn’t a Marvel or ‘Star Wars’ movie, it sure has been shrouded in secrecy, but finally, some new information and even some photos have arrived.
For starters, we now know the names of the main characters. (Well… their first names at least.) Carrie Coon plays Callie, while Mckenna Grace plays her daughter, Phoebe, who is described as “science-obsessed.” Finn Wolfhard plays her son, Trevor, who is described as a “gearhead.” “They have left everything they know and moved to a small town in Oklahoma after inheriting property from the father she didn’t know.”
It was rumored that Callie would be the daughter of one of the original Ghostbusters, possibly Egon Spengler, who was played by Harold Ramis, who passed away in 2014.
Unlike the all-female 2016 reboot, ‘Afterlife’ is set in the same continuity of the original ‘Ghostbusters’ movies of the ’80s. Director and co-writer Jason Reitman says:
“[Afterlife’] is a new adventure that connects back to the Manhattan Crossrip of 1984.”
And though he didn’t name names, Reitman confirmed Callie’s familial connection:
“As the family arrives at an old farm, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters. Trevor and Phoebe are about to find out who their grandfather was and whether they’re ready to pick up the proton pack themselves.”
A report in Vanity Fair also states that Callie and her kids will be grappling with different types of “hauntings”: “Regrets about the past. Guilt over lost moments. Unfinished business.” It remains to be seen how that will factor into the new story.
The film also stars Paul Rudd as Mr. Grooberson, a seismologist and part-time summer school teacher, who is investigating some mysterious seismic activity in the small town.
Rudd is shown in one of the just-released photos from ‘Afterlife’. He is holding one of the Ghostbusters’ traps:
Mr. Grooberson was “a kid when the Manhattan Crossrip occurred. Although later generations may think of it as a myth, or not think of it at all, he remembers it obsessively and is excited to pass on what he knows.”
This is good because Trevor and Phoebe are said to have less knowledge about the original Ghostbusters than most.
Mr. Grooberson is drawn to the town because of strange seismic activity, which it turns out to originate from a nearby mine. In this next photo, Phoebe and a friend, played by Logan Kim, ignore warning signs to investigate.
In addition, Phoebe is said to have discovered a device in their new home that reads “psychokinetic energy.” Obviously, fans are familiar with that object. But that and the trap aren’t the only tools the kids discover.
Below, Trevor is shown laying eyes on Ecto-1 for the first time. It’s covered, but it is said that the car has seen better days, and is now kind of a rust bucket.
But dilapidated or not, Ecto-1 will be back in action at some point in the movie:
As Reitman stated:
“The joy of co-writing a film like this is imagining the sound of Ecto-1’s engine revving back to life or the moment a PKE meter lights up for the first time and begins leading you toward your destiny.”
Hopefully, this has whet your appetite for more. The first trailer for ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ will be released on Monday!
