The Ghostbusters: Afterlife sequel will be directed by writer Gil Kenan, Deadline has confirmed. Filmmaker Jason Reitman, who helmed last year’s legacy sequel, will stay on as a writer and producer for the follow-up, with the likes of Paul Rudd, Mckenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, and Carrie Coon all set to return.

“It’s an absolute honor to pick up the proton pack and step behind the camera for the next chapter of the Spengler family saga,” Gil Kenan, who wrote Ghostbusters: Afterlife and is known for directing the likes of A Boy Called Christmas and Monster House said of bringing the Ghostbusters sequel to life. “I just wish I could go back to 1984 and tell the kid in the sixth row of the Mann Valley West that one day he was going to get to direct a Ghostbusters film.”

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Released last year, Ghostbusters: Afterlife picks up thirty years after the 1989 sequel Ghostbusters II, and follows a family who move to a small town, where they discover their connection to the original ghost-busting team. The legacy sequel was well-received by both critics and audiences alike, grossing $204 million worldwide against a production budget of $75 million, with a sequel announced earlier this year. Not much has been revealed regarding the direction of Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2, but we do know that it will take the action back to Manhattan.

“A few years ago, my father handed me the keys to Ecto-1, and together we made Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” Jason Reitman said of the sequel. “Words will never express how grateful I am to have made a film with my father by my side. It’s now time to hand those keys to my creative partner and fellow Ghostbuster Gil Kenan, a brilliant director who will keep the Spengler spirit alive. I can only hope to provide him the same producorial care and support that my father showed me.”

The Ghostbusters: Afterlife Sequel Will See Ernie Hudson Return as Winston Zeddemore

     Via: Columbia-Delphi Productions

With the Ghostbusters: Afterlife sequel all set to take the action back to Manhattan, the stage is set for Ernie Hudson to reprise the role of original Ghostbuster, Winston Zeddemore. Ghostbusters: Afterlife saw the likes of Winston, Peter Venkman, and Ray Stantz feature in the finale of, and producer Jason Reitman has since revealed that Winston will heavily feature in the follow-up.

“The character of Winston Zeddemore and Zeddemore Industries figures strongly into the future of Ghostbusters,” Reitman said before revealing that he did discuss sequel ideas with his father, the filmmaker Ivan Reitman, before his passing in February. “We talked about what we wanted to see happen to the Spengler family and even outside the Spengler family. And he was so excited. He was just thrilled about where we wanted to go. And sitting there, telling him what we wanted to do with the story was a daunting responsibility, but his enthusiasm for it is what fuels us today.”

The Ghostbusters: Afterlife sequel has not yet been given a release date, but it sounds like things are moving quickly in the right direction.