Bill Murray’s Performance in Ghostbusters: Afterlife Said to be Just 'One of the Joys' of the Movie

As I've previously reported, the November issue of Empire Magazine features an interview with Ghostbusters: Afterlife director Jason Reitman and his father, producer of Afterlife and director of the first two Ghostbusters films, Ivan Reitman.

The interview touches on a variety of topics, such as the on-screen dedication to Harold Ramis that’ll be seen in Afterlife, as well, what it was like having the cast of the 1984 film returning for the third chapter.

 

When asked about the daunting task of bringing back such iconic characters and having the likes of Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, and Dan Aykroyd on set, Jason Reitman said:

“I don’t think I was prepared for what it would feel like when the original guys walk on set in their flight suits. It’s like seeing superheroes. And it feels very special. It’s also very intimidating. And it is an immediate reminder of what we were so presumptuous to attempt, which is to make another film that is a chapter in this larger story. It’s one thing to direct all new characters, because at that point, you can almost say that you’re making fan fiction. When Bill (Murray) and Ernie (Hudson) and Dan (Aykroyd) walk in wearing flight suits, it becomes very real, very quickly. This is a Ghostbusters movie.

Producer Ivan Reitman added:

“When certain people started showing up from the world of the ’84 film, it was startling for me. Just to see everybody older but still be there. Seeing them step on set in character was really thrilling. And to hear Venkman speak as Venkman, in a way that we haven’t heard in such a long time, that’s going to be one of the joys of the movie.“

Jason Reitman also mentioned Murray’s notorious history of ad-libbing, which was certainly felt on set of Afterlife.

“I’d heard all the stories about Bill improvising lines of dialogue. And when Bill improvised a line, I remember everyone around me going “He did the thing!”

The November issue of Empire Magazine is on newsstands now.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife arrives exclusively in theatres on November 19th, 2021.

Source.