Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2 Can’t Escape Release Date Carnage, Pushed To 2024-TGN

Summary

• Sony has officially delayed the release date of Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2, pushing it from December 2023 to March 2024, amidst ongoing strikes.

• The upcoming sequel will feature the return of the original cast members, including Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, and Dan Aykroyd.

• Sigourney Weaver has confirmed that she will not be returning for Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2.

With less than six months left from its original scheduled date, Sony has officially delayed the Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2 release date. The upcoming movie will see the return of Afterlife‘s cast as well as original trio Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson and Dan Aykroyd, while Sigourney Weaver has confirmed she won’t be back for the sequel. Plot details are unknown fo Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2, though it is expected to see the young protagonists introduced in Afterlife heading to New York to relaunch the eponymous business.

In the midst of the ongoing actors and writers strikes, Sony has confirmed the Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2 release date has been delayed. Originally set for a December 20, 2023 release, the studio has pushed the upcoming sequel to March 29, 2024, Easter weekend. The new date puts Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2 up against Robert Pattinson and Bong Joon-ho’s sci-fi thriller Mickey 17.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2’s Release Delay Is Bad For Its Box Office

While major release delays have been expected due to the actors and writers strikes, Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2‘s delay comes shortly after Hudson exclusively confirmed to Screen Rant that the sequel had finished filming and indicated Sony would push forward with its December release. Its original release date would’ve made for some tense competition at the box office, pitting the Ghostbusters sequel against holdover Wonka and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom the same weekend.

Related: Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2 Is The Franchise’s Most Important Movie In Almost 40 Years

Though an experimental sci-fi movie may not seem as tough a competition, the lead up to Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2 sees a number of tentpole projects hitting the big screen, beginning with both Kung Fu Panda 4 and A Quiet Place: Day One on March 8. The two will be followed by Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire‘s March 15 release and Disney’s live-action Snow White remake on March 22. Even a couple of weeks after Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the movie is facing challenge from the animated Lord of the Rings movie on April 12.

Considering its 2021 predecessor was only a modest success, grossing just over $204 million against its $75 million production budget, with very minimal competition, the various other movies Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2 will have to face in its new release date is concerning for its box office chances. While it’s unclear if co-writer Ivan Reitman and director Gil Kenan have ideas for a third movie, should the sequel fail to stand up to its competitors, it may lead to the franchise having to once again go dormant.

Source: Sony