Bill Murray confirmed back for Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Well, it would be wrong to say we didn’t know – we did – well, we hoped and prayed, but it’s finally been confirmed that Bill Murray IS in Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

In a new interview on the set of the movie, Murray reveals that one of the worst things about making the original movies was carrying the proton packs on their backs: “When you put that gear on, it’s so uncomfortable. It’s so heavy, just to stand there with that weight on your back, tilting your spine. And we wore them for a long time.”

The interview took place in Canada in September around the time of the star’s 69th birthday – remember when we reported he was spotted on set (here) and people on social media attacked us for being fake news? Well, guess what?

Anyway, the star went on, revealing a suspected detail about the new movie, that newcomers are shouldering the movie this time and the original stars – Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Murray – have a lighter load this time… at least when it comes to the packs.

Murray talks about the absence of Harold Ramis for the third movie, the actor who played the fourth Ghostbuster, Egon Spengler, and hits, again as suspected, that it will be part of the tale that Egon is missing: “Well, we are a man down. That’s the deal,” Murray said, looking saddened.

“And that’s the story that we’re telling, that’s the story they’ve written.”

Murray and Ramis had been longtime friends and collaborators but had fallen out after the movie Groundhog Day, however, Murray visited Ramis days before his death and reportedly the two spoke for a very lomg time and  put any ill-will behind them.

The new interview confirms that the original cast members – including Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts – all were on the set at Calgary for a week last September to film their scenes: Each has a meaningful role in the movie, but they won’t be the central heroes this time, says the report.

It also adds that the cast will be back as their characters for the first time since 1989’s Ghostbusters II – this is an interesting tidbit as some believed the new movie may ignore GBII in the same way that some recent sequel have ignored other instalments.

Writer/Director Jason Reitman says of his new Ghostbusters installment: “If I think about who I’m making this movie for, it’s my father.

“We all know what it’s like to be told stories by our parents. I’m really honoured to get a chance to tell one back to him from the world he brought to life.”

So, why is Murray – who it is widely speculated only came back to cameo in the . 2016 reboot after Sony threatened to sue if he didn’t – return? The answer is very heartening, indeed: “The script is good. It’s got lots of emotion in it. It’s got lots of family in it, with through lines that are really interesting. It’s gonna work.”

Getting back to the proton packs, Reitman as such a great message for the fans of this movie – and the new fans who found the franchise through the 2016 movie: “I wanted to make a movie about finding a proton pack in an old barn and the thrill of actually putting it on for the first time. I’ve had friends come to the set and hoist on the packs, and it always turns grown-ups into children.”

And that is truly the best message any fandom can hear.

Source: Vanity Fair