Bustin’ is going to make Sony feel good yet again come Christmastime next year. The studio has announced that the sequel to last year’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife will officially arrive in theaters on December 20, 2023. Mark your calendars because this figures to be the cinematic event for genre fans of the holiday season next year.
We're back December 2023. https://t.co/ZQKSrd1ndt
— Ghostbusters (@Ghostbusters) June 28, 2022
Sony previously confirmed that it was moving forward with another sequel in the franchise following the success of Afterlife last year. This will be more akin to Ghostbusters 4, given that the most recent entry served as a direct sequel to Ghostbusters II while ignoring the events of director Paul Feig’s 2016 reboot. Plot details largely remain under wraps, but director Jason Reitman is returning along with writer Gil Kenan.
Reitman earlier this month confirmed during Ghostbusters Day that the next installment was underway, saying, “We’re writing another movie. Tonight, we’re going to share the code name for the next chapter in the Spengler family story… The last time we saw Ecto-1, it was driving back into Manhattan: the home of Ghostbusters. That’s where our story begins. The code name is Firehouse.” Indeed, the ending of the previous film saw Winston (Ernie Hudson) taking the Ecto-1 back home, seemingly laying the groundwork for a return to form. Afterlife largely took place in the country at Egon’s home, centering on his estranged daughter and her family.
Sony wasted exactly no time in getting a sequel going. Afterlife was released in November 2021 and performed quite well commercially, taking in $204 million at the global box office against a reported $75 million budget. That is the key, as Reitman and the studio were able to keep the budget relatively low. 2016’s Ghostbusters cost a hefty $144 million, which made its $229 million haul downright disastrous. There was also a more palpable enthusiasm from general moviegoers for this latest entry, which is not too surprising given that it brought back the original cast Force Awakens style.
There is no official word on who will be returning to star in this latest sequel. It seems all but assured that Ernie Hudson will reprise his role as Winston. We should also expect to see the new, younger cast members such as Finn Wolfhard and McKenna Grace back in the saddle. As for whether or not Bill Murray and/or Dan Aykroyd can be called into action yet again, we shall see.
Sony will be facing some competition on that date as Warner Bros.’ Wonka starring Timothée Chalamet, opens the week prior. Paramount also has a new Star Trek sequel dated December 22, 2023, and Disney has a new Star Wars film set for that date as well. Though it seems unlikely that Star Wars will get its act together in time to hit that date, for what it’s worth.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife is currently streaming on Starz.
