A rebooted version of “Ghostbusters” doesn’t hit theaters until next month, but Sony Pictures is already plunging ahead with other ways to keep the paranormal investigators busy.
The studio’s animation division is planning a television series entitled “Ghostbuster: Ecto Force.” The show is being spearheaded by Ivan Reitman, the director of the original 1984 blockbuster, and will focus on a new generation of Ghostbusters. It will be set in the year 2050. The show is eyeing an early 2018 debut.
This isn’t the first time the Ghostbusters have gotten the animated treatment. In the mid-1980’s, there was an animated spin-off, “The Real Ghostbusters,” which featured big screen characters such as Peter Venkman and Egon Spengler, as well as tie-ins to the movies thanks to appearances by the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.
In addition, Sony Animation announced that Bob Persichetti will direct an animated Spider-Man film. Persichetti previously oversaw the story on “Puss in Boots” and “The Little Prince.” The writing team of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who collaborated on “21 Jump Street” and “The Lego Movie,” will handle the script. The studio expects to release the film on Dec. 21, 2018.
And the “Hotel Transylvania” series will remain in familiar hands. Sony has convinced Genndy Tartakovsky to return to the directing chair for the third installment. He oversaw the first two films in the animated monster movie franchise.
