Movies
Gil Kenan Directing ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Sequel With Returning Cast!
The sequel to Ghostbusters: Afterlife is moving forward and a new director is taking the helm.
After successfully relaunching the franchise with 2021’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Sony Pictures is ramping up pre-production on the sequel with the film’s writer and exec producer Gil Kenan (Monster House, Poltergeist) set to take over directing reigns, Deadline reports.
Sources tell the site that Jason Reitman, who directed the last pic, will move into a producer role alongside Kenan and Jason Blumenfeld.
The Ghostbusters: Afterlife ensemble that includes Paul Rudd and Carrie Coon are on board to return from a script from Kenan and Reitman.
Presumably, this means Mckenna Grace will be back as Afterlife character Phoebe, the grand-daughter of Egon Spengler, although the article does not confirm any returning ‘busters. Finn Wolfhard stars as Phoebe’s brother, Trevor.
Ernie Hudson is said to be returning once again as Winston, who was teased as the Universe’s new centerpiece. See the below clip.
While not much is known about the sequel sources say the plan, which was set up in the below post-credit sequence in Afterlife, is to return to New York City and the iconic firehouse made famous in the original Ghostbusters films.
“It’s an absolute honor to pick up the proton pack and step behind the camera for the next chapter of the Spengler family saga. I just wish I could go back to 1984 and tell the kid in the sixth row of the Mann Valley West that one day he was going to get to direct a Ghostbusters film,” said Kenan.
“A few years ago, my father handed me the keys to Ecto-1 and together we made Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” added Reitman. “Words will never express how grateful I am to have made a film with my father by my side. It’s now time to hand those keys to my creative partner and fellow Ghostbuster Gil Kenan, a brilliant director who will keep the Spengler spirit alive. I can only hope to provide him the same producorial care and support that my father showed me.”
Production is being eyed for the top of 2023 with casting underway for some new roles to be added to the ensemble.
The untitled sequel brings the ghosts back to theaters on December 20, 2023!
Movies
R-Rated ‘The X-Files: I Want to Believe’ Director’s Cut Gets New Title and Streaming Premiere Date
After a slight delay, Disney has finally announced a new streaming date for the R-Rated director’s cut of The X-Files: I Want to Believe. According to Gizmodo, it’ll also come with a new title.
The X-Files: I Want to Believe Vrach Frankenshteyn begins streaming on Hulu on August 14.
The new cut was first teased in an interview with director Chris Carter on the Fail Better With David Duchovny podcast from last year, where he teased a much scarier movie he intended.
“Now I have a chance to go back and make the scary movie that I always intended to make,” Carter explained last year. “It’s not just doing a Director’s Cut to do a Director’s Cut. It’s really kind of bringing to life something that for me was on the page and never got to the screen.“
The director’s cut of the film was initially set to arrive on Disney+ in June, but quietly disappeared from the schedule without a word. Polygon reported the delay was “due to some last-minute adjustments being made to the film.”
The release’s new “Vrach Frankenshteyn” title certainly suggests those adjustments have been made, likely referring to a Frankensteining of bonus footage.
In the film, Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) have been out of the FBI for several years, with Mulder living in isolation and Scully having become a doctor at a Catholic hospital, where she has formed a bond with a critically ill child patient.
When an FBI agent is mysteriously kidnapped, and a former Catholic priest who has been convicted of pedophilia claims to be experiencing psychic visions of the endangered agent, Scully is asked to bring Mulder back to the bureau to consult on the case because of his work with psychics.
The brand new R-rated cut will “faithfully restore the filmmaker’s original vision.”
Look for it on Hulu next month.