On Ghostbusters Day, it was announced that Too Hot To Handle: Remembering Ghostbusters II wrapped after an eight-year production journey. UK filmmakers Anthony and Claire Bueno are the minds behind the documentary. This came after production delays due to the pandemic.
It serves as a followup to their 2019 documentary, Cleanin’ Up The Town: Remembering Ghostbusters. That project documented the making of the original film. This new one digs deep into the 1989 sequel Ghostbusters II. Featuring interviews with Dan Aykroyd, the late Harold Ramis,Ernie Hudson, and Sigourney Weaver. It also includes the late director Ivan Reitman and ILM’s Dennis Muren.
It also feels timely.
Ghostbusters 2 was released on June 16, 1989 to generally negative reviews. Despite that, the film made $215 million worldwide on a $30-40 million production budget. The misadventures of getting the film to the screen plays to that fact. Production was rushed and huge cuts were made to the film when test screenings didn’t go well, with new scenes written and filmed during reshoots only two months before the film’s release.
Reitman himself said he watched the test version. He realized then that final 25 minutes of the film just died a horrible death. He spent four days shooting an entirely new 25 minute ending to replace it. That sort of behind-the-scenes chaos is precisely the sort of thing the Bueno siblings have been chasing.
Unannounced Film Company’s prior work included distribution of Cleanin’ Up The Town: Remembering Ghostbusters. A film which performed well on Amazon and iTunes. Laurence Gornall‘s Unannounced Film Company has acquired world rights to the follow-up.
Features a score we’ll most likely recognize
The documentary will feature a score from Randy Edelman, who scored Ghostbusters II. Connections to the original film are always appreciated. And, having Edelman touch it up is a nice small bonus.
“It’s been an honour and a privilege to capture these interviews and finally be able to present them all to the world. I’m incredibly proud of the work that we have all put into these documentaries. It hasn’t always been an easy journey but with the skills and talents of all involved, we can finally show Too Hot To Handle to the fans of the Ghostbusters films and filmmaking alike.”
Anthony Bueno addressed the completion in a statement shared via Deadline
After a few years in limbo, production is complete, and Unannounced Film Company plans to launch the film at festivals and markets this fall. While there is no set release date yet, the hard work has paid off. They secured distribution and a sales company is in place, milestones that Ghostbusters fans will certainly appreciate.
