Harold Ramis' Daughter Gave Her Blessing for the End of GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE
Ghostbusters: Afterlife was such a fun movie that was made for the fans, and we are grateful. The movie made me laugh, cry, and feel all the feels while getting me excited for the future of the franchise. The film had quite an ending, but before we talk about it, I’ll warn you that there are spoilers ahead:
The finale culminated with a reunion between the ghost of Egon Spengler (the late Harold Ramis) and his family, as well as his Ghostbuster comrades. It was done in a very touching way, and it really was a sweet scene. But the director and co-writer of the film, Jason Reitman, didn’t want to film the scene if it wasn’t okayed by Ramis’ daughter, Violet Ramis Stiel.
In Ghostbusters: Afterlife, actress Carrie Coon plays Egon's daughter and McKenna Grace plays his granddaughter. According to The Hollywood Reporter (via /Film), both actresses prepared for the movie by reading Stiels' memoir, Ghostbuster's Daughter: Life With My Dad, Harold Ramis.
Director and co-writer Jason Reitman, the son of Ghostbusters director and Afterlife producer Ivan Reitman, made sure to involve Stiel in the creative process. As fellow Ghostbuster kids, they have known each other since childhood, and she was one of the first people to read the script for Afterlife. Stiels told THR:
"[Jason Reitman] was so careful to get it right, to really honor the early films and everyone who was in them, but also to make something for now and the future. Maybe he is the only person who could do that. He is the physical bridge."
Stiels went on to add:
"One thing that is timely about the movie is yes, it is a comedy, but it is also about loss and grief. And we are all dealing with that. It was surreal. There are so many parallels to real life, but it is just a movie. And it is not actually him. It is a character. Jason, smartly, focused on capturing the Egon character and not necessarily my dad. I feel like it really worked in that way. Ultimately, it leaves us with that feeling: The people we love are always with us. They don't go away.
It’s awesome that Stiels was involved with the making of this film. It adds a sweetness to it. I loved the movie, and I loved the ending. I can’t wait to see what’s next for the Ghostbusters franchise.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife is in theaters now.