THEN AND NOW GHOSTBUSTERS

What’s back, what’s new, what’s shakin’? Get all the slime, er, scoop on the new sequel to your favorite ghost story.

After decades of anticipation and one pandemic-induced delay, Ghostbusters: Afterlife (in theaters Nov. 19) is finally here. Yes, the proton packs, ghost traps and cool Ecto-1 ghostmobile are back! Unlike the all-female edition from 2016, this is a direct sequel to the iconic 1984 comedy Ghostbusters, in which three paranormal scientists—played by Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Bill Murray— banded together to stop slime-spewing spirits from taking over New York City. It features many of the old cast, including Aykroyd (the original’s co-writer), Murray, Sigourney Weaver, Ernie Hudson ( the fourth Ghostbuster, non-scientist Winston Zeddemore) an` Annie Potts. The film is `irecte` and co-written by Jason Reitman.

His father, Ivan, helme` the original Ghostbusters and serves as a producer here.

Afterlife pays homage to Ramis (Ghostbuster Egon Spengler), who died in 2014. Spengler’s progeny—a daughter played by Carrie Coon and her two children ( Mckenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard)— move into a dilapidated farmhouse bequeathed to them by the late Egon. Soon strange things, including earthquakes, start happening in their new small town of Somerville, Okla., and the curious kids must unearth Grandpa Egon’s past.

Joining them is Paul Rudd, playing teacher and budding seismologist Mr. Grooberson. Rudd, 52, grew up watching Saturday Night Live and was thrille` to work with Aykroy`, whom he calls come`y royalty. “I got the script an` of course I ha` to `o it,” he says. “I’m still pinching myself. -ketches like ‘The Bass-o-matic’ and ‘The Bag o’ Glass’ live on in our subconscious, and then you think of The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters and the dramatic work he did in [1989’s] Driving Miss Daisy. The guy can `o it all!”

That guy who can do it all didn’t think the original Ghostbusters would be a smash. Aykroyd, 69, recalls that halfway through production, Murray (who took the role of Peter Venkman after John Belushi died in 1982) stopped by for lunch and gave an inkling of what may be in store. “We’re eating sandwiches an` Billy says to me, ‘You know that you’ve written what might be one

SIGOURNEY WEAVER reportedly snarled like a dog in her audition to prove she could pull off acting possessed.

“We came, we saw, we kicked its ass.” —BILL MURRAY’S PETER VENKMAN

The spooky sounds that foreshadow significant events (in both movies) are produced by an ondes martenot, an old French electronic keyboard, played by CYNTHIA MILLAR.

The 1984 STAY PUFT MARSHMALLOW MAN’s goo was made of 50 gallons of shaving cream!

of the greatest and largest comedies of all time,’” Aykroyd says. “That’s nice to hear, but I never took it to heart.” Cut to the summer of 1984, when the film was tops at the box office for seven consecutive weeks and spawned a No. 1 theme song, toys, ghost-emblazoned T-shirts and an animated series.

A NEW SLIME TIME

A Ghostbusters sequel with a fresh story and new and original players? Aykroyd never thought he’d see this day. “It was completely unanticipated,” he says of the new film. “But Jason took our reputation and the value of Ghostbusters to a completely new level. It’s a story that works on the page and works on the screen just beautifully. I think this is going to be big, and if I’m wrong, then I’m going to throw away 35 years of experience in the comedy business.”

When you’re dealing with a movie that’s so iconic, you want to be respectful, says director Jason Reitman ( Juno, Up in the Air, Tully). “I showed the screenplay to Bill, Dan, Ernie, Sigourney and the family of Harold Ramis, and the feedback we got was that they loved it. That was more important than anything.”

Jason, 44, was actually on set when his dad directed the original. “I remember when they dumped marshmallow on William Atherton [playing EPA inspector Walter Peck]. I remember some of the special-effects tests, and I was there for the recording of the original score.

It was one of the first moments where I fell in love with the movies.” Ivan Reitman ( Stripes, Twins, Dave), 75, was often on his son’s set as well. “I’m the first `irector to complete a film with my father sitting next to me,” Jason says.

Both hope the new movie resonates with the audience. “Of all the films that I’ve `one, Ghostbusters has hung on the most in the largest way. So many people identify with it. It’s astounding,” says Ivan. Jason agrees. “For a lot of people, the original was the first horror movie and most important comedy they ever saw as kids, and it was their introduction to science fiction,” he says. “It touches on so many genres and it becomes part of your language.”

If you’re not a Ghostbusters fan yet, the new movie also stands alone, says Rudd. “You don’t have to have history with the franchise to enjoy this movie. But there’s something reassuring and magical because of all those connections back to the original. You `o feel a certain level of gratification,” he says.

Rudd and Aykroyd also credit a familial feeling on set as an ingredient for movie magic. “You can’t underestimate the value of unqualified collaboration,” Aykroyd says. “You go to a set and you introduce yourself and you involve everybody. It’s what makes good art and commerce. Nothing can be pulled off without teamwork, whether you’re at a nuclear plant or on an airplane or working on an oil rig. As human beings, we have to be able to work together.”

Rudd agrees: “I have learned that it’s nice when you can surround yourself with people who are funnier, talented and nicer than you. If you’re going into a project with a need to shine brighter than everyone else, your career can be short-lived.” And in comedy especially, “You’re relying on everybody else to be funny. And when people are pleasant and enjoying themselves, it tends to show. I don’t believe it’s true that you have to have a grueling or punishing experience to make something good.”

And when the spirit is right, that something can be great. “To do this for a living?” Aykroyd exclaims. “Oh, my God, to write a scene—‘ Blues Mobile jumps swing bridge’—and then show up and have them to do it? To do a Ghostbusters movie? It’s a wonderful, wonderful business. There’s no life like being on a film set with your family and your friends. It’s just the best, right?”