Ivan Reitman weighs in on the Ghostbusters franchise moving forward

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

To the surprise of probably no one who regularly reads this site, I actually really enjoyed the 2016 all-female GHOSTBUSTERS reboot. While I know it has faults (some draggy improv-heavy pacing), and in my opinion isn't better than the original (though I appreciate they have different comic sensibilities), it still is fun and enjoyable. I love the cast (though it is a bit unfortunate that Leslie Jones is the only non-scientist in the film), and I especially loved that they didn't rehash the character dynamics of the original. For better or for worse, it was for the most part it's own thing.

However, that aspect was pretty much the main contention among fans who weren't raging misogynist assholes (because I'm willing to concede that just because you hate GHOSTBUSTERS '16 doesn't mean you're a sexist). And, to be fair, that was also chief concern among the assholes as well. Many fans felt like they wanted a connection to the originals, beyond hamfisted cameos and references.

Luckily for you fans, original director Ivan Reitman agrees with you. Here's what he said recently in an interview:

I think one thing that fans have clearly wanted, and so did I, is that somehow we tie the worlds together. That the historical films – the ones that I originally directed, you know, back in the ’80s – mixed with the film that Paul Feig just did and that world. I think it was a little awkward that it wasn’t connected, and we certainly heard a lot from everybody out there. So I would definitely want to connect to all of that…What we’ve been doing a lot of is thinking about the franchise rights for Ghostbuster, because Ghostbusters – that idea doesn’t have to just take place in New York, it can happen over the world. I think it would be really cool to see Korean ghosts or Chinese ghosts. All those great traditions in the world have all these historical stories and all these tales of things [that] those people are afraid of. To have a sort of local group of Ghostbusters that tie with the head office in New York would be fun.

You know, like I said, I really liked the GHOSTBUSTERS reboot, and would love to see that cast again in another adventure; however, I also like what Reitman said as well. I definitely wouldn't mind a sequel to the originals that dealt with other cultures around the world – it would lead to some cool visuals, and also a more diverse cast. I honestly don't think we necessarily need more GHOSTBUSTERS films in general, but I'm acutely aware the IP is too good to pass up, so if you're going to HAVE to do it (and after the financial disappointment of the reboot also have to restart AGAIN), that's not a bad plan. I'd watch it.

So what do you Schmoes think? You down with Ivan's plan? Or would you, like me, willing to give the '16 version a second chance with a sequel? Either way, sound off below (as if I needed to prompt you for this one)!