Ghostbusters: Afterlife Sequel Signs Gil Kenan to Direct With Former Cast Returning

EXCLUSIVE: After the successful relaunch of the franchise with 2021’s Ghostbusters: Life After Death, Sony Pictures is ramping up pre-production on the sequel, with writer and executive producer Gil Kenan directing. Sources tell Deadline that Jason Reitman, who directed the transparent film, will write and produce with co-writers Kenan and Jason Blumenfeld. Insiders add that the Ghostbusters: Life After Death Ensemble including Paul Rudd and Carrie Coon are on board to return.

“It is an absolute honor to pick up the proton pack and step behind the camera for the next chapter in the Spengler family saga,” said Kenan. “I wish I could go back to 1984 and tell the boy on the sixth row of Mannvallei West that one day he will direct a movie. ghostbusters Movie.”

Although not much is known about the sequel, sources say the plan is to return to New York City and the legendary fire station that made it famous in the original. ghostbusters movies. It is slated for a December 2023 release.

“My father gave me the keys to Ecto-1 a few years ago and we did it together Ghostbusters: Life After Death” Reitman said. “Words can never express how grateful I am to have made a film with my father by my side. Now it’s time to hand those keys over to my creative partner and Ghostbuster colleague Gil Kenan, a brilliant director who will keep Spengler’s spirit alive. I can only hope to give him the same productive care and support that my father showed me.

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After that, getting a sequel into production was a high priority for Sony Ghostbusters: Life After Death, The latest sequel to the iconic 1984 film became a hit in November 2021. Directed and co-written by Reitman and executive produced and co-written by Kenan, the film opened as the pandemic subsided with strong results, including a $44 million opening weekend. The film grossed over $200 million worldwide.

After the success of Ghostbusters: Life After Death, Reitman and Kenan signed a full production deal with Sony Pictures and quickly began work on the script for the next film. Production is now eyeing the 2023 summit, while casting is underway for a number of new roles being added to the ensemble.

Kenan has directed films such as monster house, city ​​schools and last year A boy named Christmas. Before the monster house. It received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Animated Feature monster house

Reitman also directed thank you for smoking, Juno, In the airYoung adult, Tully and The Forerunner. As a producer, he has, among other things, that of Damien Chazelle to his name whiplashJean Marc Vallees demolition and Karyn Kusama’s cult hit Jennifer’s body.

Kenan is repped by WME and Robert Offer. Reitman is repped by WME and Alan Wertheimer.