Dan Aykroyd Says Harold Ramis Is Honorably Represented in GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE and Teases Possible Sequels
Ghostbusters fans are eagerly anticipating the upcoming sequel Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and it’s exciting to think about all of the cool and unexpected things that the movie will deliver.
One thing that a lot of fans are excited about is the fact that the original main characters will be returning in some capacity. As for Harold Ramis, who passed away in 2014, Dan Aykroyd says he’s “very honorably represented” in the movie. While talking to EW, he said:
"To have that formation without that man standing right there on the line with us was a pretty serious adjustment. He will be very well represented in the new film, I can tell you that. He’s very honorably represented."
One thing that we all know about the story, is that the family that Ghostbusters: Afterlife focuses on are related to Ramis’s character Egon Spangler, which I thought was pretty cool! The story follows “a single mom and her two kids [who] arrive in a small town, [and] begin to discover their connection to the original ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.”
Aykroyd also talked about the franchise's future being in the hands of director Jason Reitman, son of original director Ivan Reitman. He also teases the possibility of additional sequels, saying:
"He’s passing the DNA of the first two movies directly to the new generation. It’s just a lot of fun to see these terrific young actors slinging the old Cadillac around and having the equipment in their hands. The story that develops from that is scary and funny and heartfelt and also funny. And it feeds into the possibility of more follow-ups with this group and with others who want to join."
The actor went on to say if you want to be a Ghostbuster, get out there and become one!
"Everyone can be a Ghostbuster, just start out by studying science and physics. Every county in the United States has a paranormal society, and I don’t think before Ghostbusters that was true. No one back then knew what ectoplasm was, before Ghostbusters. We introduced that term to millions of people around the world where it was just a standard part of the vernacular in the research, which my family has been into for generations. We turned it into a joke [in the film], and I think that’s ok with everyone on the other side. [laughs]"
Ghostbusters: Afterlife stars Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, McKenna Grace, and Paul Rudd. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Ernie Hudson, are also all going to return. The movie will be released on March 5th, 2021.