In a recent episode of the Spanish television series MasterChef Junior, there was an entire segment dedicated to the upcoming Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which featured a look at the new ghost Muncher. The new installment in the Ghostbusters series is both a reboot to the franchise and a direct sequel to both the original films, Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II. The 1980 classics were helmed by Meatballs and Stripes director Ivan Reitman, while Afterlife will be directed by his son Jason Reitman, who is known for the films Juno and Up in the Air.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife will take place thirty years after the second film, following a family that moves to a small, desolate town and how they soon uncover the unbelievable secrets their grandfather kept, like the family’s connection to the Ghostbusters. The film’s narrative seems fitting, moving on to the next generation just like how the franchise itself got passed on from father to son. It was reported that Ivan actually cried after watching the movie with his son Jason, confirming that the original director found something special in it.
According to Ghostbusters News, there was a lot of Ghostbusters content in the MasterChef segment, including an easily recognizable vehicle known as the Ecto-1 and a background image of an old farmhouse that seemed like a still from the upcoming film. The main centerpiece, however, was the life-sized Muncher replica that was hanging off a metal post. While Muncher does look very similar to Slimer from the original Ghostbuster films, he instead has multiple arm-legs, much like a tardigrade, and is electric blue, unlike Slimer’s fluorescent green. Check out the segment below:
A lot of fans are excited for the fresh take on the franchise, especially after Finn Wolfhard’s comments about the film staying faithful to the original movies. Wolfhard will be joined in the film by Paul Rudd and Carrie Coon with audiences being able to see the return of Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver, Ernie Hudson, and Annie Potts, who will all reprise their original roles. Having a new monster that’s similar to Slimer, like Muncher, join the new generation of ghost hunters can be seen as a nod of recognition and respect to the previous films but also as a promise to deliver a fresh and new idea. Unfortunately, with the poor response to Paul Feig’s all-female version of Ghostbusters, some fans are still keeping low expectations and hoping for a film that doesn’t ruin their childhood memories.
With such a reliable director crafting an original piece of work that’s nostalgia-driven yet able to stand on its own, audiences should worry a little less. According to Aykroyd, the franchise is already considering possible sequels, allowing the franchise to explore even more possibilities and characters, and if this one’s not quite your speed, there could be more down the road. Ghostbusters: Afterlife and the slimy, caterpillar-esque Muncher will be ectoplasma-ing theaters June 11, 2021.
Source: Ghostbusters News
