Ghostbusters Afterlife might not be the end of the franchise, hints director

Ghostbusters: Afterlife
(Image credit: Sony Pictures)

The road to Ghostbusters’ new lease-of-life in 2021’s Afterlife sequel has been a rocky one. Several attempts have been made to reunite the original cast for decades, while 2016’s Paul Feig-directed reimagining was tepidly received.

Speaking to Total Film ahead of its new issue, Ghostbusters: Afterlife director Jason Reitman hopes the upcoming release will reverse that trend – and lead to a new boom period for the ‘busting franchise.

"The last thing I wanted to do was close the door on Ghostbusters," Reitman says. "I wanted to pick something up that would then be available to many other storytellers to tell Ghostbusters stories. It’s one of the great franchises, so one of our goals was to make a movie that absolutely led to more Ghostbusters films."

Much like those who clapped eyes on the original in 1984, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is aiming to enrapture a whole new generation – and prove that Ghostbusters is still alive and sliming for years to come.

Elsewhere, you can now take a look at a trio of exclusive images from Ghostbusters: Afterlife… just as long as you ain’t afraid of no ghosts. Or proton packs.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife opens in cinemas in the UK on November 18 and on November 19 in the US. For much more on the film from Reitman and his cast, pick up a copy of the new issue of Total Film magazine when it hits shelves (real and digital) from Thursday, October 14.

And if you’re a fan of Total Film, why not subscribe so that you never miss an issue? 

Jordan Farley
Deputy Editor, Total Film

I'm the Deputy Editor at Total Film magazine, overseeing the features section of every issue where you can read exclusive, in-depth interviews and see first-look images from the biggest films. I was previously the News Editor at sci-fi, fantasy and horror movie bible SFX. You'll find my name on news, reviews, and features covering every type of movie, from the latest French arthouse release to the biggest Hollywood blockbuster. My work has also featured in Official PlayStation Magazine and Edge.

Read more
Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Alfie Williams in 28 Years Later
28 Years Later release date, trailer, cast, and everything else we know so far about Danny Boyle's zombie horror sequel
Sarah Michelle Gellar in Buffy
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot news was always going to be divisive, but it could be exactly what TV needs right now
Sharni Vinson as Erin in You're Next (2011)
Team behind slasher horror You're Next reveal their scrapped idea for a twisted sequel: "My point is, it's really good we didn't make this movie"
Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried in Jennifer's Body
Star of cult hit Jennifer's Body says marketing "ruined" the horror movie's chances, but they may get another shot with a sequel 16 years later
Gabriel LaBelle, Ella Hunt, Matt Wood, and Dylan O'Brien in Saturday Night (2025)
Live from New York… it's nervous laughter! How Ghostbusters' Jason Reitman nails the all-too-rare dread-inducing comedy with new Saturday Night Live movie
Jonathan Bailey in Jurassic World Rebirth
Jurassic World Rebirth looks more horror movie than adventure – and that has me thrilled
Latest in Comedy Movies
John Cena in Barbie
John Cena comedy Coyote Vs. Acme might come out after all, over a year after it was controversially shelved
Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore 2
29 years later, Happy Gilmore 2 trailer sees Adam Sandler return to the course with familiar faces – and confirms release date
Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jonah Hill, and Michael Cera in Superbad
Seth Rogen says Sony wouldn't let Jonah Hill use a PlayStation in Superbad as his character was too "reprehensible": "They're like, 'We can't have him interact with our products'"
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan in Freakier Friday
Freaky Friday 2 trailer promises more body-swap hilarity from Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan in long-awaited sequel
Jenna Ortega as Astrid Deetz in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice 2 star Jenna Ortega would love to star in another classic horror comedy franchise: Gremlins
This is Spinal Tap
First Spinal Tap 2 teaser reveals release date for comedy sequel that’s over 40 years in the making
Latest in News
Saw X
Billy the Puppet gives Saw fans some hope on the future of the horror franchise by updating his LinkedIn profile to "employed"
Bella Ramsey as Ellie and Pedro Pascal as Joel in The Last of Us
The Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin praises Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal for "spectacular" take on one of Part 2's most iconic scenes in season 2
"I didn’t have a single ally": Tekken 4's negative reception put series boss Katsuhiro Harada under so much stress that he left Namco for a year
Kaitlyn Dever as Abby in The Last of Us
The Last of Us showrunner praises Abby actor's "physically tremendous" performance ahead of season 2: "We just haven't f**ked up in casting"
Quacks: All-In Edition box art
Fellow witchcore weirdos, prepare your cauldrons for a classic potion-making board game refresh with Quacks: All-In Edition
Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor in Superman
Superman star to lead upcoming thriller movie from Deadpool 2 and Bullet Train director