Dan Aykroyd says Ghostbusters sequel will honorably represent Harold Ramis

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

A third film in the GHOSTBUSTERS franchise has been in various stages of development for decades, but following the death of Harold Ramis, the likelihood of the original cast reuniting for more Ghostbustin' adventures was slim. After Paul Feig's reboot under-performed at the box-office, Sony began moving forward with a film which would serve as a sequel to the original two GHOSTBUSTER films; not only that, but the film will finally feature Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, and Annie Potts reprising their original roles.

Although Harold Ramis is no longer with us, Dan Aykroyd told Entertainment Weekly that Ramis' character will still be honorably represented in GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE.

To have that formation without that man standing right there on the line with us was a pretty serious adjustment. He will be very well represented in the new film, I can tell you that. He’s very honorably represented.

While we don't know exactly how Harold Ramis' Egon Spengler will be used in GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE, the synopsis does offer a big clue. "When a single mother and her two children move to a new town," reads the synopsis, "they soon discover that they have a connection to the original Ghostbusters and their grandfather's secret legacy." GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE has been directed and co-written by Jason Reitman, son of Ivan Reitman, director of the original two GHOSTBUSTERS movies. "He’s passing the DNA of the first two movies directly to the new generation," Aykroyd told EW of the younger Reitman. "It’s just a lot of fun to see these terrific young actors slinging the old Cadillac around and having the equipment in their hands. The story that develops from that is scary and funny and heartfelt and also funny. And it feeds into the possibility of more follow-ups with this group and with others who want to join."

GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE was originally set to hit theaters on July 10, 2020, but owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sony Pictures pushed the film back to March 5, 2021.