New 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' Movie Delayed Again Due To COVID-19

We often hear the phrase "long awaited sequel" being bandied about, but never has the saying had more relevance than it does when talking about the new 'Ghostbusters' sequel.

'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' was originally slated for release in the cinema in July 2020, but it became one of several big budget movies and productions to be delayed due to the global pandemic.

The film originally had its cinema release pushed back to March 5th 2021, but this week Sony Pictures have announced a further delay. They still plan to release the movie in cinemas, rather than a home-streaming release like some other big films. This means fans will now have to wait until November 11, 2021 to see director Jason Reitman's extension to the Ghostbusters universe.

Many fans were hoping that if there was a further delay the movie would be released as a premium home release. We've seen a few other big movies released as premium video on demand in the last few months, including Disney's 'Mulan', 'The Craft: Legacy', Robert Zemeckis' 2020 version of 'The Witches', and most recently 'Wonder Woman 1984'.

Of course a PVOD release costs a little more than you'd normally pay to watch a movie online and isn't included in subscriptions like Prime or Netflix's, but given the circumstances fans generally seem happy to pay a little extra at home as a replacement for a trip to the cinema.

Jason, who also co-wrote the upcoming movie, is the son of Ivan Reitman, the director of the original two films. In fact Jason even appeared in 'Ghostbusters II' as the bratty kid near the start of the movie. He tells Ray that, according to his dad, the Ghostbusters are "full of crap".

The new movie will star Bokeem Woodbine and Paul Rudd, who revealed his involvement in the project in a viral video last year. The US comedian and actor announced the news in a selfie-style video shot outside the iconic New York fire station which was used as the exterior of the gang's headquarters in the original 80s supernatural comedy movies.

A recent trailer for the movie reveals that Paul will be playing the role of a local school teacher in the forthcoming movie.

It's also understood that Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, and Annie Potts will cameo as their original characters in the 2021 movie.

The first official trailer for 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' dropped at the end of 2019 and revealed Carrie Coon as Callie, the mother of two children Trevor and Phoebe, played by 'Stranger Things' star Finn Wolfhard and Mckenna Grace - the grandchildren of one of the original Ghostbusters. Although it's not yet been confirmed, the collection of spores, moulds and fungus in the trailer would suggest she's related to Egon - plus she has quite the family resemblance.

The kids learn of their family's ghost busting past on an old farm in Summerville, Oklahoma. Reitman told Vanity Fair, "Trevor and Phoebe are about to find out who their grandfather was and whether they're ready to pick up the proton pack themselves."