Deadline broke the news last week that the still as-of-yet untitled sequel to Ghostbusters: Afterlife is sliding from its December 2023 release date to March 29, 2024 as result of the current union strikes in Hollywood. Though the film is wrapped in production, several key processes in post that require actors cannot be achieved because of the SAG strike currently in progress. Things like additional photography or pick-up shoots, or even the common ADR session needed to add in clean dialogue muddied by wind machines or other noises on set are forbidden under the current SAG strike. Not only that, but a film like Ghostbusters usually requires special dialogue looping to be done for the creatures or villains they encounter, all of which are usually also done in post production.
As we discussed in the most recent episode of the Crossrip podcast, a delay isn’t the worst thing for the film, as they were in a dead sprint trying to make the original December release date in the first place. It was going to be a photo finish.
The last film, Ghostbusters: Afterlife experienced several delays due to the COVID pandemic and movie theaters being closed for business. The end result was more time to work on visual effects, the benefit of time to add a post credits sequence setting up Firehouse, and more time to work on the edit of the film. All of which were to the benefit of the end product.
Firehouse (or Ghostbusters 4 as we’ve been calling it around these parts for clarity) will also benefit from a similar bit of breathing room. Both for the film and for the marketing and PR campaign to come, which will now have both a Halloween season, New York Comic-Con (traditionally where Ghostbusters has had a presence of some sort), and a holiday season where merchandise can also add to the awareness of the upcoming film.
While it’s a bummer for fans who have eagerly anticipated the follow-up to Afterlife, in the end it will be worth the wait. Here’s hoping the strikes can be resolved quickly and amicably, and everything can be underway once again.