For a Sequel, Who're You Gonna Call? 'Ghostbusters' !

It hasn’t been all gravy and ectoplasm for those fabulous Ghostbusters since they saved New York and, like, just all of mankind in 1984. Spacey parapsychologist Dr. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) has become the host of a psychic cable TV show. Fumbling Dr. Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) and Winston Zeddmore (Ernie Hudson) work children’s parties. Brainy Dr. Spengler (Harold Ramis) researches the spirit world. And Dana (Sigourney Weaver), once Murray’s paranormal paramour, has made a mess of marriage to someone else and is now a single mother possessed by her job rather than by demons with a penchant for high balconies.

Now, however, a new threat to civilization has arisen—a subterranean menace bent on near-global gooing. Lured by this challenge—or perhaps by the box office potential—our fearless gang has reassembled for Columbia’s Ghostbusters II, a sequel to the megahit that has earned some $200 million since its 1984 release. That’s a lot of incentive for anyone to risk another sliming.

This time around, again under the direction of Ivan (Twins) Reitman, the exterminators of etherea are filming on a tight two-week schedule around Manhattan. Weaver, who signed on at the last minute, will reprise her romance with Murray, and, as if that weren’t tough enough, Reitman says she’ll have to contend with a baby carriage that lurches along on its own itinerary. The rest of the plot is, as ghosts should be, under wraps.