Image copyright Sony Image caption The all-female reboot of the Ghostbusters franchise
Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a fan film that attempts to set the original film’s tale in the present day but instead adds a teenaged twist.
The newest outing for the paranormal exterminators – coming soon to online streaming services – sees the four women go undercover as a gang of high school kids called the Ecto 2000.
“There is a respectful mixture of things that the originals did and things that they did differently,” says director and co-writer E. Ross Hansen.
“One thing we wanted to bring to the table were all-female Ghostbusters.
“Being four strong women, we were hoping the film would help to support that (female film making) movement.”
The anti-hero team at the centre of the new movie make the victims of the supernatural run for cover and refuse to end the investigation.
Instead they join up with the living dead, while the evil landlord of the house attempts to destroy the property.
The original Ghostbusters starred Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson in their famous male role.
Hansen says Ghostbusters: Afterlife’s direct update to a modern setting was a major challenge.
“We definitely wanted the appeal of the originals but adding the modern setting required a new kind of key,” he says.
“There was definitely a psychological aspect to the emotional pitch to make the story dramatic and grounded.”
Ghostbusters: Afterlife was the first of four fan films written and directed by E. Ross Hansen in honour of the anniversary of the release of the original 1984 movie.
The other two films will be Stompin’ Evil and the last of the trilogy.
Original Ghostbusters producer Ivan Reitman and producer/co-writer Dan Aykroyd have both given their backing to the series in the past.
Aykroyd confirmed the new fan-funded outing will feature the key characters made famous in the movies.
“We’re going to see the original actors who played the parts so excitedly reprising that part,” Hansen says.
“For us we’re just making it the way the fanzine writers envisioned it.”
Ghostbusters: Afterlife is currently available for viewing on EMC Networks and iTunes.
You can see footage of the new film below and to view the rest of our exclusive interview with E. Ross Hansen, see the link below.