Sony Pacifies Paul Feig: Adds ATC as Digital Download in Ghostbusters Ultimate Collection

The upcoming “Ghostbusters” Ultimate Collection box set has already been grabbing headlines around the web thanks to Sony’s heavily celebrated exclusion of the 2016 reboot “Ghostbusters: Answer the Call,” Paul Feig’s poorly received reboot movie starring Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones. 

Feig’s Ghostbusters reboot was released in 2016 and rebooted the property as an all-female ghost-catching squad in New York City. The film was universally panned by fans, but did moderately well at the global box office. However, the studio decided to pass on a sequel and opted to greenlight Afterlife. Feig first called out the exclusion of his film following Sony’s initial announcement about the collectible box set.

Hilarity on social media ensued, and the trades had a field day calling Sony’s decision disappointing, but the director continued ranting about the exclusion on Twitter. After Paul Feig effectively epitomized the “man baby” persona that he once mocked critics of his 2016 film, over the weekend, Sony slightly walked back their decision to exclude it and agreed to include it as a digital download only in the ultimate collection.

For longtime fans of the original “Ghostbusters” franchise, this box set appears to be the best home video release of the first two films yet. Not only does it come packaged in a box that resembles the trademark ghost trap (seen above), along with all the special features that have accompanied the previous releases of the classic movies, but there are a bunch of brand new specials feature. We’re not just talking footage that has never been seen before either, though there will be plenty of that. The box set also includes a full 220-page reprint of the rare 1985 book, “Making Ghostbusters.” 

Ghostbusters Ultimate Collection 4K Ultra HD Set will feature Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters II and Ghostbusters: Afterlife on 4K Ultra HD & Blu-ray, plus two discs full of special features that include more than 20 hours of rare behind-the-scenes and archived footage from the set of the two original Ghostbusters films. The box set will also be presented in collectible “ghost trap” packaging with lights and will be accompanied by a full 220-page reprint of the rare 1985 Making Ghostbusters book. It will also include an extended “Preview Cut” of the original 1984 film, a feature-length documentary about the making of the supernatural comedy, and no less than 19 never-before-seen deleted scenes from “Ghostbusters II.”

Other special features being released as part of the box set include commentary featuring director Ivan Reitman, star and co-writer Harold Ramis and associate producer Joe Medjuck; fan commentary moderated by Ghost Corps’ Eric Reich; and Slimer Mode Picture-in-Picture Track.

It’s also been revealed that the DVD version of Afterlife will feature a brand new featurette called Summoning the Spirit: Making Ghostbusters: Afterlife, while the Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD and Digital versions of the latest Ghostbusters film will include that featurette as well as the following bonus materials:

• We Got One! Easter Eggs Revealed
• Ghostbusters: A Look Back
• A Look Ahead
• Bringing Ecto-1 Back to Life
• The Gearhead’s Guide to Ghostbusters Gadgets
• Special Effects: The Ghosts of Afterlife
• Deleted Scene: Is It Ever Too Late?

The “Ghostbusters” Ultimate Collection box set will arrive on February 1, 2022 with the original “Ghostbusters” from 1984, the “Ghostbusters II” follow-up from 1989, and this year’s nostalgic revival “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” which will also be available for individual purchase on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD on the same day (the movie also debuts digitally on January 4). So, in spite of Feig’s minor inclusion (which won’t taint the physical collection in any respect), this sounds like a must-own item for fans of the property.

If only they’d have included “The Ghost Busters” series…