If memory serves correctly, Sony Pictures was one of the first studios to shift their release date calendar in the wake of the big 2019 COVID-19 pandemic, and now, with another calamity in front of the film industry—the dual WGA (writers) & SAG (actors) strikes—the company is again pretty much the first studio to respond and delay their release calendar in reply.

READ MORE: Sony Reserves 2024 & 2025 Release Dates For Upcoming Marvel Projects: Are They For ‘Venom3’ & Tom Holland’s Next ‘Spider-Man’ Pic?

Continue reading Sony Removes ‘Beyond the Spider-Verse’ Off Calendar, Delays ‘Kraven,’ ‘Ghostbusters’ Sequel at The Playlist.

After “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” resurrected the franchise in November 2021, Sony Pictures and director Jason Reitman promptly started developing a sequel. Reitman isn’t directing the untitled sequel anymore (writer Gil Kenan is), but it’s still on track for a Christmas 2023 theatrical release. And with that imminent release comes casting news from Deadline: Kumail Nanjiani and Patton Oswalt are the latest to join the sequel’s cast.

Continue reading ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Sequel Adds Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt To Cast at The Playlist.

While maybe not be the best film ever, there is a lot of love from fans for last year’s “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.” The film seemed to be the prime example of a legacy sequel with nods to the original and emotional beats that tug on those nostalgic heartstrings. Can you recapture that sort of feeling again? Well, if Sony is able to do it, the studio will have to rely on a new director in the “Ghostbusters” franchise to make it happen.

Continue reading ‘Ghostbusters’: Gil Kenan Takes Over Directing Duties From Jason Reitman For The Upcoming Sequel at The Playlist.

Typically, December is an incredibly popular time for a major studio to debut a tentpole feature. Last year, we saw “Spider-Man: No Way Home” break records around the holiday season. And this year, we’re getting “Avatar: Way of the Water” and “Shazam: Fury of the Gods.” But next year? Well, that’s a big question mark. But Sony has made the first move by scheduling the new “Ghostbusters” sequel.

Continue reading Sony Slots New ‘Ghostbusters’ Sequel For December 2023 at The Playlist.

Continue reading ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Director Jason Reitman & Co-Writer Gil Kenan Discuss Next Franchise Film at The Playlist.

Did you enjoy Jason Reitman’s legacy sequel, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife?” Well, if so, you’re in luck because the filmmaker is ready to branch out into the animated realm with the ‘Busters. 

According to Variety, Jason Reitman and producer Gil Kenan are developing a new animated “Ghostbusters” series. While the exact plot details are unknown at this time, you have to assume it will exist in the same universe of the films, including the aforementioned sequel.

Continue reading Jason Reitman Developing A ‘Ghostbusters’ Animated Series at The Playlist.

CinemaCon, the annual trade show for theater owners, is a good time for studios to flex their wares and Sony Pictures did that last night at the annual exhibition in Vegas. First up, there were some minor modifications to the two “Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse” sequels.

As you probably remember, just last week, the first part of the two-part film, “Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse,” moved from October 2022 to summer 2023.

Continue reading ‘Venom 3,’ More ‘Ghostbusters’ & ‘Beyond The Spider-Verse’ Announced At Sony’s CinemaCon Presentation at The Playlist.

Yesterday, the world found out that legendary filmmaker, Ivan Reitman passed away at the age of 75. The filmmaker behind some of the most iconic comedies of all time, including “Ghostbusters,” “Stripes,” and “Kindergarten Cop” (I’ll fight you about that last one), touched millions with his work over the decades. And as you might expect, this news led to an outpouring of love of social media.

Continue reading R.I.P. Ivan Reitman: Jason Reitman, Paul Feig, Judd Apatow & More React To Filmmaker’s Passing at The Playlist.

When “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” was released this fall, it seemed to be far less controversial than the 2016 reboot “Ghostbusters: Answer the Call.” ‘Afterlife’ definitely fits the model of the trendy legacy sequel tropes we’ve been seeing over the past few years by bringing back a ton of nostalgia and fan service while also trying to lay the groundwork for future films. Oh yeah, and it is directed by Jason Reitman, the son of “Ghostbusters” filmmaker Ivan Reitman.

Continue reading Sony Will Include Digital Version Of 2016 ‘Ghostbusters’ Reboot To Upcoming Box Set After Paul Feig Called Out Sony at The Playlist.

Going all the way back to the 1990s, Sony Pictures had been desperately trying to mount a third hard-canon “Ghostbusters” movie on the big screen. When those plans eventually crumbled in the 2010s, director Paul Feig was given the keys to attempt a female-driven reboot with 2016’s “Ghostbusters: Answer The Call,” which was largely seen as a flop as it was concurrently embattled by hateful, misogynistic online trolls.

Continue reading Jason Reitman Says He’s Spoken To Diablo Cody About Writing A ‘Ghostbusters’ Movie & Teases Vigo’s Return at The Playlist.

Can you pour so much authentic love, tenderness, and warmth into a tribute with your heart in the right place and still get it all wrong? And to that end of questions, is it possible to apply the “wrong” genre to a beloved genre franchise? Well, for the former, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” certainly makes the case for a cautionary tale about overwrought affections. Because the new film by director Jason Reitman—the son of Ivan Reitman, the director of the original 1984 comedy— is undoubtedly a well-meaning love letter to “Ghostbusters,” and the late Harold Ramis, in particular, but its well-intentioned embrace is too reverent and eventually turns mawkish, even awkward and embarrassing in the final act.  

READ MORE: Fall 2021 Movie Preview: 60+ Must-See Films

It’s a bit of a shame, given how competent ‘Afterlife’ is at certain, unexpected things.

Continue reading ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Review: A Loving Tribute To Harold Ramis Is Sabotaged By Fan Service, Overwrought Affections & Itself at The Playlist.

You know it was bound to happen, right? With all the promotion of “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” hitting, considering the film is arriving in two weeks, Sony was inevitably going to come out and show some of the original cast to drum up interest in the new sequel. And while the studio does show a little reservation, keeping a full reveal out of the trailer, there’s definitely enough that will make original “Ghostbusters” fans giddy.

Continue reading ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Final Trailer: New Footage Teases Nostalgia & Asks “Have You Missed Us?” at The Playlist.

After taking a peek at what’s to come this November, there’s no denying that we’re fully in “the thick of it” when it comes to prestige film releases. Many festival darlings such as “Spencer” and “The Power of the Dog” are making their debut this month, while other slightly under the radar but still celebrated titles will be premiering as well.

Alongside the heavy lifting of some of these awards-friendly titles, there’s also plenty by way of blockbuster releases and easy escapism, from the latest Marvel release “Eternals” to the Netflix/Dwayne Johnson action film “Red Notice.” There will always be gems found in any month (and certainly films to almost always catch up on).

Continue reading 18 Films To See In November: ‘Eternals,’ ‘House Of Gucci,’ ‘Spencer’ & More at The Playlist.

When Paul Feig’s 2016 “Ghostbusters” reboot was released, fans were not pleased. Rarely have you seen such disdain and outrage over the mere existence of a movie, no matter if it was good or not. The film ultimately wasn’t a massive box office or critical success and the “Ghostbusters” franchise went back to the drawing board. But according to a new interview with Jason Reitman, Feig’s 2016 film paved the way for the new sequel, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.”

Speaking to Insider, Reitman talked about how he credits Paul Feig for breaking the doors open for the idea of continuing the “Ghostbusters” franchise without relying on the original actors.

Continue reading Jason Reitman Says Paul Feig’s ‘Ghostbusters’ Reboot “Broke The Doors Open” For A New Sequel at The Playlist.

For folks at the recent New York Comic-Con, there was a chance to see the long-awaited “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” as part of the film’s de facto premiere. And judging by the early reviews, the film is either a quality tribute to a beloved franchise or a fan-service film that doesn’t do much than tickle your nostalgia bone. 

READ MORE: ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Early Reviews Are Mixed: Nostalgia-Filled Mess Or Emotional, Honorable Tribute?

Continue reading ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Trailer: Young Kids Pick Up Proton Packs & Bust Ghosts In Jason Reitman’s Sequel at The Playlist.

For decades, the idea of “Ghostbusters 3” has been something fans of the franchise have been dying to see. But as the years went on and after Harold Ramis’ passing, that seemed like a real pipedream and fans seemed content with the two films and ancillary material. But then, in 2016, “Ghostbusters” was rebooted and those fans rose up (in some truly scary and/or toxic ways, in some instances) to rage against Paul Feig’s film in a way that shocked many people.

Continue reading ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Early Reviews Are Mixed: Nostalgia-Filled Mess Or Emotional, Honorable Tribute? at The Playlist.

It’s been more than five years since Paul Feig’s “Ghostbusters” reboot hit theaters in 2016. And since then, there have been a number of bad remakes, reboots, and sequels, but you’d be hard-pressed to think of any of them that received the backlash that the aforementioned reboot did when it was released. Honestly, it was over-the-top how much the fandom seemingly not only hated the film but also hated everyone involved in making that version of “Ghostbusters.” And for Melissa McCarthy, the star of the film, even after all this time, she’s still confused by the insane reaction the film received.

Continue reading Melissa McCarthy Still Doesn’t Understand The “Hate-Filled” Reaction To The ‘Ghostbusters’ Reboot at The Playlist.

We’ll have to wait even longer to get our Tom Cruise fix from Paramount Pictures. The studio has further delayed the releases of both “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Mission: Impossible 7” along with “Jackass Forever.” This comes after multiple hiccups for the “Top Gun” sequel, with the release playing musical chairs for almost two years.

Continue reading Paramount Delays ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ ‘Mission: Impossible 7’ & ‘Jackass Forever’ To New Dates In 2022 at The Playlist.

Trust us when we say we hope there’s a day when the words pandemic and COVID-19 are never written on the pages of this website again, specifically in any intros to any features. However, the reality is that the collective disruption of 2020 was difficult, and it made 2021’s release schedule something of a log-jammed shitshow. That Delta variant could play havoc with things too, but we’re all starting to learn to live with a world that’s in flux. 

READ MORE: The Best Films Of 2021, So Far

All that said, the delays of 2021 have had their pluses.

Continue reading Fall 2021 Movie Preview: 60+ Must-See Films at The Playlist.

Efforts to produce a canonical threequel to 1984’s “Ghostbusters” have been surprisingly fraught. The arduous journey stretches back to at least 2005, when cast member Harold Ramis tried to entice studios with a new story that would add Ben Stiller to the mix. However, attempts to rekindle the old magic repeatedly lost momentum, and by 2014 plans for a third film were scrapped in favor of a full-scale reboot.

Continue reading ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Trailer: A New Generation Ain’t Afraid Of No Ghosts at The Playlist.

Recently, Sony Pictures presented a new clip from the highly-anticipated film, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.” While the trailer that was released a while back seemed to elicit strong nostalgic sentiment from the very opinionated (some might call “toxic”) “Ghostbusters” fanbase, the clip featuring mini versions of the Stay Puft marshmallow man didn’t necessarily generate the same sort of excitement. But according to Bill Murray and “Ghostbusters” director Ivan Reitman, the clip is a good indication of what you might see in ‘Afterlife.’

READ MORE: Bill Murray Was Reluctant To Return For The New ‘Ghostbusters’ But Says Sequel “Brings It Back To Life”

Reaction videos are all the rage on social media.

Continue reading ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’: Bill Murray & Ivan Reitman Say Mini-Pufts Clip Shows “The Feel” Of The Final Film at The Playlist.

It’s been more than two years since it was announced that Jason Reitman (son of Ivan Reitman, the original film’s director) was set to take over the “Ghostbusters” franchise for a new film, titled “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.” The long delay between when the announcement happened and the film’s upcoming release has to do with the COVID pandemic, but according to one of the franchise’s biggest names, Bill Murray, the wait will definitely be worth it.

Continue reading Bill Murray Was Reluctant To Return For The New ‘Ghostbusters’ But Says Sequel “Brings It Back To Life” at The Playlist.

Many moons ago, when we were so much younger and so much more innocent, back in March 2020, when the pandemic first started, Sony Pictures looked like smart trailblazers. They saw the writing on the wall immediately and knew “Tenet” in the summer of 2020 would be a joke: the company wrote off 2020 entirely (someone was talking to Dr. Fauci, it seems) and moved their entire slate to 2021, abandoning 2020 as a write off year and they were right.

Continue reading Sony Release Dates Scramble: ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Moves To November, ‘Uncharted’ Shifts To 2022 at The Playlist.

There’s a lot of pressure on Jason Reitman’s next film, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.” Not only is the film a sequel to the fan-favorite franchise that has seen its fair share of ups and downs, but ‘Afterlife’ is also a family affair for the director, who steps into the shoes of his father, Ivan Reitman, who directed the first two films in the franchise. But it appears that Jason Reitman shouldn’t have to worry too much about gaining his father’s approval, as the elder filmmaker has apparently seen the new ‘Ghostbusters’ and really enjoyed it.

Continue reading ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’: Ivan Reitman Cried After Watching Jason Reitman’s Upcoming Sequel at The Playlist.

I’m not telling you anything you don’t know. Aside from the election result, Trashfire 2020™ was a shitty year. And a weird and disorienting year thanks to COVID-19 and having to shelter-in-place, quarantine, and social distance from one another blah, blah, blah coronavirus f*cked us hard. Movies certainly took it in the teeth this year, and especially the theatrical industrial complex, which feels like it’s on its last legs. But regardless of what happens next for theaters, people are going to continue making and releasing movies.

Continue reading The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2021 at The Playlist.