Ghostbusters: Afterlife has officially received a PG-13 rating. Jason Reitman, whose father Ivan directed the first two films, is helming the follow-up. A third Ghostbusters film had long been in the works, but it never came to fruition due to various production issues. Instead, Sony produced a reboot in 2016 that starred Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones, and Kate McKinnon. However, the reboot failed to make waves, opening the door for a return to the original series.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife brings back original actors Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Sigourney Weaver. Joining them are a slew of fresh faces, including Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Carrie Coon, and Paul Rudd. The film will switch gears, taking place in rural Oklahoma rather than the bustling cityscape of New York, exploring the legacy left behind after the original movie. Ghostbusters: Afterlife will follow Wolfhard's Trevor and Grace's Phoebe as they adjust to life in Summerville, Oklahoma, on the ranch they inherited from their grandfather, who they don't realize was one of the original Ghostbusters.
After facing a set of coronavirus-related delays, Ghostbusters: Afterlife will hit theaters this November, and the film has officially received a PG-13 rating. According to Film Ratings, the PG-13 rating is for both supernatural action and suggestive references. Both the original Ghostbusters and its sequel were rated PG, while 2016's reboot was rated PG-13.
The trailer for Ghostbusters: Afterlife showed off some of this supernatural action as the Ecto-1 speeds through downtown Summerville while Trevor and Phoebe try to take down a ghost that is on the loose. The trailer also gives glimpses of a few different scenes where the new ghost, Muncher, is terrorizing the citizens of Summerville. While Ghostbusters: Afterlife looks to be retaining some of the comedic charms of the original, it also seems to be going just a tad bit darker, leaning into the horror aspect that always lingers at the heart of the franchise.
The action shouldn't be anything to worry about, though. Sony will want the film to be palatable for families, and the MPAA's archaic rating system has only gotten stricter over the years. With its story about the Ghostbusters' legacy, it seems to be a family affair all around, especially with Reitman directing. Hopefully, Ghostbusters: Afterlife can make its November release date with no further delays. After taking years to get off the ground and being shifted around the calendar several times, fans are more than ready to revisit the series.
Source: Film Ratings
