Bill Murray has returned as Dr. Peter Venkman, but it’s not for any new Ghostbusters movie or TV series; nope, it’s a car commercial. In a spot for Rivian, Murray suits back up and is seen driving an electric Ectomobile dubbed the Ecto-R1. And of course, our good buddy Slimer appears as well, eagerly raiding a fridge before Venkman traps him. Check out the commercial above!
But Wait, There’s More
The Ectomobile actually looks pretty slick in Rivian form. I like it. The company will be bringing out the actual Ecto-R1 to select locations in Laguna Beach, Austin, Venice, Miami Brickell, San Francisco, and New York City’s Meatpacking District. The events will also include limited-edition merch and themed refreshments, with additional appearances planned for the NYC Village Halloween Parade and a Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt pop-up in Los Angeles.
But, there’s also a Ghostbusters-themed Halloween mode for Rivian owners, which will run from October 9 to November 2.
Owners will be able to get into the Ghostbusters spirit with a dedicated in-vehicle app featuring themed lighting, sounds, and displays. Among its features is a Trick or Treat Mode, which transforms the driver and rear screens while blasting the iconic Ghostbusters theme song. Many of these effects can also be activated through Rivian’s mobile app.
Drivers can select from several Ghostbusters-inspired effects, including Ecto-1, the Proton Pack, Slimer, the Ghost Trap, and Peter Venkman, each pairing exterior lighting with matching sound effects. A Motion Mode can even activate certain effects when someone walks past the vehicle. Owners will also have the option to customize their lock sounds, while Rivian’s voice assistant gets a Halloween makeover, allowing it to control light shows, offer clues for scavenger hunts, and trigger spooky sound effects.
The Ghostbusters commercial was directed by Gil Kenan, who co-wrote Ghostbusters: Afterlife and co-wrote and directed Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.
The Ghostbusters Franchise
As for the franchise itself, there are several projects to look forward to. Netflix is developing an animated TV series titled Ghostbusters: Night Shift, set five years after the events of Ghostbusters II. The synopsis reads: “New York City, 1994 — Five years after the Ghostbusters took the Statue of Liberty for a walk, a new wave of supernatural terror hits the Big Apple, forcing a group of scrappy, young New Yorkers — untrained, underappreciated, and kinda sorta responsible for the problem — to put on proton packs, face their fears, and bust some ghosts.“
There’s also been a rumour making the rounds that a new live-action movie titled Ghostbusters: Nightmare on 34th Street is in the works.
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