Summary
The 2016Ghostbustersreboot can’t catch a break, even fromGhostbusters: Afterlifedirector Jason Reitman, who took a dig at the all-female cast of the failed franchise. After speaking to Bill Burr on his podcast in 2019, Reitman said thatAfterlifewould return the property to the fans in a love letter toGhostbusters.
This is another regrettable comment in a long line of backhanded remarks that theGhostbustersreboot has had to field over the years. Since the trailer for the 2016 reboot first premiered, the film was met with wildly hateful comments because of the female cast and the audacity of modernizing a three-decade-old franchise. Leslie Jones, thehilarious mother of the Zack SnyderJustice LeagueTweets, arguably got the worst of the vitriol. She has been outspoken about her feelings on the subject and why she felt she was singled out as a Black woman.
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Jones' recent memoir,Leslie F*ucking Jones, addressed Reitman’s comments as particularly significant in theGhostbusterswound. “Bringing up the idea of giving the movie ‘back to the fans’ was a pretty clear shout-out to all those losers who went after us for making an all-female [movie],” Jones wrote. “Why are people being so evil to each other? How can you sit and type ‘I want to kill you.’ Who does that? Sad keyboard warriors living in their mother’s basements hated the fact that this hallowed work of perfect art now featured — gasp! horror! — women in the lead roles. Worst of all, of course, was that one of the lead characters was a Black woman. For some men, this was the final straw.”
It didn’t matter that in any other scenario,Ghostbusterscould have been quite successful. It had four funny women attached. Chris Hemsworth appeared in a supporting rolebeforeThor: Love and Thunder. Director Paul Feig has dug himself a welcome niche with this comedy. But no matter how funny it was, it would never win over the hoards of fans who felt a certain level of ownership over the films. Even more inexcusable, they took their anger out on the actors doing their jobs.
This reaction effectively killed any future for the movies and any hope for future generations to enjoy the ghostbusting characters. It also spreads the ongoing subtext that no one wants to see women onscreen. The 2016 film wasn’t particularly subtle about what they were trying to do, but sending death threats to the women working on it sends a pretty clear message. And whenGhostbusters: Afterlifecame to pass years later, that sent an even more straightforward message. Yes, some main characters were women, but they were effectively erased later in the film. Callie (Carrie Coon) is turning into a demon dog so thatGhostbusters: Afterlifecan rehash the loreand Bill Murray can return and save the day. Once again, Jones' words are an unfortunate prophecy that toxic fans always seem to win the day.
Ghostbusters(2016) is available for rent or purchase.
