The brand new Ghostbusters: Afterlife trailer was released today and was absolutely dripping with nostalgia.
Scattered throughout were nods after nods to the first Ghostbusters, which shouldn’t come as a shock considering the entire story is based around Egon Spenger’s family inheriting his farmhouse/mine that’s bubbling with secrets.
This is the Ghostbusters 3 most fans desired and director Jason Reitman has gone to great lengths to preserve the very essence of his father’s 1984 classic. From the appearance of the Ecto-1 to the protons packs, P.K.E. meters, and traps, right down to the iconic sounds and visual effects (pulled directly from the original film’s negative), Afterlife aims at authenticity.
Being that the new film is straight canon, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that many original characters – and ghosts – make an appearance. In fact, in addition to the terror dog causing chaos in the streets of Summerville, Oklahoma, it would appear that the big bad from Ghostbusters returns as well.
In the very first trailer for Ghostbusters: Afterlife, we see Egon Spengler‘s grandchildren exploring their inheritance, which includes not only a farmhouse and barn, but also a mining company. The name of the mining company? I’m glad you asked because it’s the “Shandor Mining Co.”, established in 1927.
This is important because Shandor is, of course, Ivo Shandor, best known as the architect who built 550 Central Park West, Dana’s apartment building (aka “Spook Central”) in Ghostbusters. He was also the leader of the Cult of Gozer who used this property as a way to connect with the afterlife and bring upon the end of the world. In the 1984 film, the portal is opened and the Ghostbusters come face-to-face with Gozer and are forced to risk “crossing the streams” in order to close the gateway.
There’s no footage of the exterior of the Shandor Mining Co. in the second trailer for Ghostbusters: Afterlife, but it’s the first time we see the children entering the actual mine, which carries a dark secret: it’s yet another place of worship, where Shandor and his followers could hold ceremonies to honor Gozer.
In fact, it looks as if the kids accidentally open this alternate gateway, not only unleashing all the spooks, but also GOZER.
Watch the new trailer here and catch Afterlife in theaters this Thanksgiving.