Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2 Gets New (But Familiar) Director

Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2 is taking a big step forward as it gets a new, but familiar, director in Gil Kenan, who helped co-write its predecessor.

After helping co-write the previous movie, Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2 gets a new, but familiar, director in the form of Gil Kenan. Prior to teaming with Jason Reitman to bring the sci-fi comedy franchise back to the big screen, Kenan made a name for himself with a wide range of horror genre projects, including his feature directorial debut Monster House and the 2015 Poltergeist remake. Kenan was previously confirmed to be returning to co-write Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2 with Reitman, though that won’t be all he’s doing for the film.

Deadline has brought word that Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2 is making a slight change to its behind-the-scenes team as Gil Kenan has signed on to direct the upcoming sequel. Kenan, who co-wrote the previous installment in the franchise with director Jason Reitman, is returning to co-write the script with Reitman and take over the director’s chair from his creative partner, who will still act as a producer. Kenan wrote about his directorial hiring in the following statement:

It’s an absolute honor to pick up the proton pack and step behind the camera for the next chapter of the Spengler family saga. I just wish I could go back to 1984 and tell the kid in the sixth row of the Mann Valley West that one day he was going to get to direct a Ghostbusters film.

Related: Ghostbusters 5 Confirmation Is A Relief: Afterlife Deserves A Sequel

What Could Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2 Be About?

While not much has been revealed about the film at the time of writing, previous reports surrounding Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2 have indicated that it would continue the Spengler family’s story from the prior installment and that the action would return to New York City. The sequel’s working title is even that of “Firehouse,” pointing to the story revolving around the Ghostbusters’ iconic base of operations, as teased in Ghostbusters: Afterlife‘s post-credits scene. Interestingly, sources close to the project also now indicate that both Carrie Coon and Paul Rudd are expected to return for Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2.

With Mckenna Grace also confirmed to return to play the granddaughter to Harold Ramis’ Egon Spengler in Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2, it will be interesting to see what the story would be about. Given the prior film revisited the threat of the original Ghostbusters movie with Gozer, it could be speculated that the sequel will see the Spengler family put up against the return of a new form of Vigo the Carpathian in NYC. However, with Ghostbusters: Afterlife‘s formula repeating the original met with some division from critics, it may be the smarter play to avoid revisiting more legacy ghosts in the next installment.

Given Ernie Hudson recently indicated he had seen a version of the Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2 script, which he was very enthused by, it seems likely that the sequel will feature Winston Zeddemore in some capacity. With him revealed to be the current owner of the firehouse, it could be explained he recruits the Spengler family to help combat a new supernatural threat in the city, or helps fund their efforts to relaunch the business. Only time will tell how all the pieces fall into place when Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2 hits theaters on December 20, 2023.

Next: Ghostbusters 5 Needs To Break The Franchise’s Weird Origin TrendSource: Deadline