Film

Paul Rudd Is Exceedingly Handsome In The Trailer For The New ‘Ghostbusters’

'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' seems like a concerted effort to get fans onside by returning to the series' roots.

Paul Rudd in Ghostbusters: Afterlife

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True to its supernatural theme, Ghostbusters simply refuses to die.

The original was such a beloved smash hit that several attempts to capitalise on its success have made it to the silver screen. First there was the uneven but fun Ghostbusters II. Then there was the animated series. Years later, there was the first attempt at a reboot, the discourse-generating Ghostbusters: Answer The Call. And now there’s the much more safe Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

Indeed, Afterlife feels like something of a course correct, a response to the controversy over Answer The Call. Gone are the female heroes, replaced by a new generation of ‘Busters. Add to that the fact that the new film has been directed by Jason Reitman, son of the original’s director Ivan Reitman, and it feels like Afterlife is a concerted effort to get fans onside by returning to the series’ roots.

To that end, the trailer for Afterlife hits all the nostalgic beats — there’s a Slimer-like creature, the original’s famous car, dozens of miniature Marshmellow Men, and the same light but reverential tone of the first film.

Oh, and Paul Rudd. Rudd plays the delightfully monikered Mr. Grooberson, a teacher who gets involved in a supernatural shenanigan that seems to threaten the stability of the entire world. And the trailer is heavy on that trademark Rudd charm, with the man smiling his way through the chaos as it unfurls around him.

Basically, the film looks pretty interesting, though your enthusiasm will change depending on how much you like lore-building, given that seems to be Afterlife‘s modus operandi.

Watch the trailer for Afterlife in full here: