A new poster for Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2 has given a glimpse at a new version of the franchise’s iconic logo, inspiring some guesses about the film’s official title. Developed under the working title Firehouse, the upcoming sequel to 2021’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife is currently scheduled for release in December 2023. Featuring the return of Mckenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Carrie Coon, and Paul Rudd as the newest franchise leads, the latest sequel will also include appearances from original Ghostbusters stars Ernie Hudson and William Atherton.Now, the official Ghostbusters Twitter account has released a poster with a frozen version of the iconic franchise logo. Check it out below:
Causing a flurry of speculation as to what the new logo might mean for the sequel’s plot and as-yet-to-be-revealed official title, many pundits commented on their guesses. Several theories even point to a possible connection to Dan Ackroyd’s original Ghostbusters III plans, and these suggested titles include Ghostbusters: A Cold Day in Hell and Ghostbusters: Hell Freezes Over.
Does The New Ghostbusters Logo Suggest A Return To Ghostbusters: Hellbent?
Long before Jason Reitman had a chance to continue the franchise once directed by his father, Ivan Reitman, there were plans for a third Ghostbusters film written by Ackroyd. Planned to be a direct sequel to 1989’s Ghostbusters II, Ackroyd’s film would have seen the original Ghostbusters team come out of retirement and travel to an alternate Hell dimension to solve a new ghost plague affecting Manhattan. Dubbed Ghostbusters: Hellbent, the film would have also introduced a new generation of Ghostbusters which would have included the likes of Chris Farley, Chris Rock, and Ben Stiller.
While it is not yet clear whether the plot for Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2 might seek to borrow some of the ideas Ackroyd initially developed for Ghostbusters: Hellbent, the new logo has brought the ideas back into the limelight. Moreover, the revelation that the new film will return to New York City would also support theories that the sequel might adapt some of Ackroyd’s original concepts, which would have seen the team explore a hellish version of Manhattan dubbed Manhellton. The freezing indicated in the new logo could also point to a literal freezing over of Hell, prompting the ghost infestation of New York from dispossessed souls.
Without far more concrete evidence, however, these theories remain little more than conjecture. The new logo for Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2 might represent an entirely original threat separate from what would have been included in Ghostbusters: Hellbent. With the scheduled release date now only months away, hopefully, more details will begin to emerge, along with an official title announcement.
Source: Ghostbusters/Twitter