“Ghostbusters” fans will be able to rejoice in 2020 if director Jason Reitman is true to his word.
Details on the upcoming film are still scant, but Mr. Reitman’s recent interview on the Bill Burr Podcast made clear that he wants to build bridges with fans who were alienated with Sony’s 2016 effort by director Paul Feig.
“We are, in every way, trying to go back to the original technique and hand the movie back to the fans,” Mr. Reitman, son of original “Ghostbusters” director Ivan Reitman, said Tuesday.
Sony’s previous effort starring Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnon, Melissa McCarthy, and Kristen Wiig was a hit with critics but a disappointment at the box office.
The film made less than $130 million domestically and was plagued with controversy as its creative team and defenders became increasingly political and started attacking fans of the 1984 film who didn’t like the all-female reboot.
“They’re insignificant gnats, they’re losers, they have no lives of their own,” original “Ghostbuster” Dan Aykroyd, also a producer of the 2016 film, told Entertainment Tonight: Canada. “They can probably barely pay for the Wi-Fi they’re using — probably no jobs. I would say you’re looking at obese white men between 50 and 60 who are active Klan members or member of the Aryan Nation and there are millions of them.”
SEE ALSO: Dan Aykroyd: Leslie Jones’ critics are racist, unemployed and ‘obese’ Donald Trump voters
Mr. Reitman, however, is taking the opposite tack — seeking to repair the damage done by alienated fans.
“This is going to be a love letter to ‘Ghostbusters,’” said Mr. Reitman, who also directed “Thank You For Smoking” and “Juno.” “I love this franchise. I grew up watching it. I consider myself the first ‘Ghostbusters’ fan. I was like seven years old when that movie came out and I love it. I want to make a movie for my fellow ‘Ghostbusters’ fans.”
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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