Ghostbusters: Afterlife director Jason Reitman reveals he's already working on 'Ghostbusters 4' - Tech

There could likely be a Ghostbusters 4, according to Jason Reitman.

The director has resurrected the original film franchise with a third movie – ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ – which will be released in March 2021.

But despite Afterlife’s delayed release, having been stalled thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems there are plans to continue the franchise afterwards.

The saga continues: There could likely be a Ghostbusters 4, according to Jason Reitman

The 42-year-old director – who is the son of Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II filmmaker Ivan Reitman – told the Josh Gad Reunited Apart series: ‘I can’t tell you anything, but we are working on another instalment.’

He appeared on the YouTube special alongside his father and the cast from Ghostbusters I and II – Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts.

The five actors have reprised their roles from the first two movies – which were released in 1984 and 1989 respectively – for Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which is a direct sequel to Ghostbusters II and the third canonical chapter in the movie franchise.

Their characters Dr Peter Venkman, Dr Ray Stantz, Winston Zeddemore, Dana Barrett and Janine Melnitz will feature in the third instalment, although their storylines are as yet unknown.

New life: The director has resurrected the original film franchise with a third movie – ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ – which will be released in March 2021

The fab four: The original cast saw [L-R] Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Billy Marray and Dan Aykroyd play the Ghostbusters. The latter three are resuming their roles for Afterlife

The 42-year-old director told the Josh Gad Reunited Apart series: ‘I can’t tell you anything, but we are working on another instalment’

The film – which fans have already waited 31 years for – had been set for release this summer before the nine-month delay was enforced. And director Jason believes that this has only been of benefit to the franchise.

‘We have a little bit more time, and look, as a director, I’ve never had this opportunity to actually take a pause and breathe and look at the movie again,’ he added. ‘I’ve been spending my days editing Ghostbusters, so that’s where I’ve been.’

The new movie features franchise newcomers Finn Wolfhard and Mckenna Grace – the former of which has assured that ‘older Ghostbusters fans will find it’s a really, really faithful approach to the series’, adding: It’s also really funny, so I’m really excited for people to see it.’

Original star Bill, now 69, backed up these claims when he recently spoke to Vanity Fair. He said: ‘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.’

One man down: He also referenced the fact that Harold – who co-created the format in the 1980s – won’t be featuring as as Dr Egon Spengler having passed away in 2014 at the age of 69

Apocalypse then! The Ghostbusters saved New York – and the world – from imminent supernatural destruction

Legacy sequel: The new film follows the story of Egon’s family, who inherit a farmhouse, leading Egon’s grandchildren to delve into their late grandpa’s history [pictured: Mckenna Grace in Afterlife]

He also referenced the fact that Harold Ramis – who co-created the format in the 1980s – won’t be featuring as as Dr Egon Spengler having passed away in 2014 at the age of 69.

Despite this, the film is in fact driven by the iconic character – who was famously the straight-laced, brain-box of the four Ghostbusters.

Bill said: ‘Well, we are a man down. That’s the deal. And that’s the story that we’re telling, that’s the story they’ve written.’

To be continued: Afterlife picks the story up at a time when the spook-battling organisation has become an urban myth, along with the Manhattan Crossrip of 1984

Demigod: It is hoped there will be a nod to the plot of Ghostbusters I, which saw the coming of Gozer the Sumerian God in New York that threatened the apocalypse

Ghostbusters: Afterlife follows the story of Egon’s family, who inherit a farmhouse in Summerville, Oklahoma, following his death.

As they relocate to the house, after being evicted from their former home, the rural town experiences several unexplained earthquakes – leading Egon’s grandchildren to delve into their late grandpa’s history.

It’s then that they learn he was Ghostbuster – despite the spook-battling organisation becoming an urban myth over time, along with the Manhattan Crossrip of 1984 [which is how the events of Ghostbusters I are referred, which saw the coming of Gozer the Sumerian God in New York that threatened the apocalypse].

Sink the pink! Ghostbusters II continued the story of the first film, this time seeing the characters battle an underground river of slime causing supernatural havoc in the city

Big bad! Ghostbusters II saw the wrath of Vigo the Carpathian, a sixteenth-century tyrant who was immortalised in a giant portrait at a New York museum, hunting for an heir

Ghostbusters II continued the story of the first film, this time seeing the characters battle an underground river of slime causing supernatural havoc in the city, as well as the wrath of Vigo the Carpathian, a sixteenth-century tyrant who was immortalised in a giant portrait at a New York museum, hunting for an heir.

In 2016, Paul Feig helmed a reboot of the franchise, but its positioning in the franchise’s canon was muddled. It served as a stand-alone, female-led version of the format and was slammed by fans and critics.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife is set for a March 2021 release.