‘Ghostbusters’ past pulling for ‘Ghostbusters’ present

You may not think of the new “Ghostbusters” movie as a tearjerker, but when producer Ivan Reitman saw the cast of his 1984 classic together with the stars of this summer’s revival, he cried.

“I started to weep. I’m starting to weep now talking about it. It was just a great joy,” Reitman told CNN at the Los Angeles premiere of the film.

More than 32 years after the original “Ghostbusters,” and 27 years after its sequel, “Ghostbusters” 2016 is the right reincarnation, Reitman said.

“It has the joy and spirit of the first film and is a really perfect continuation of the Ghostbusters saga.”

The online outrage from fans of the franchise critical of a reboot, particularly with women in the lead roles, was much ado about nothing to the first crew of paranormal fighters. All the original Ghostbusters save one appear in the film, which is also executive produced by one of them, Dan Aykroyd. (The only one who doesn’t appear, Harold Ramis, died in 2014. The new movie features a scene with a subtle creative nod to him.)

“We all wanted to come back – me, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, especially to show the fans we’re supporting the movie,” Ernie Hudson told CNN. “We’re behind it and we’re supporting the ladies who are very funny.”

Murray, who has the most screen time in the new “Ghostbusters,” agreed to participate only after learning who was cast. “I knew these girls were funny,” he told Jimmy Kimmel last month.

Aykroyd too, has said the proton packs have been passed to a strong team. “I feel immense gratitude for these megastars, these women here, who’ve signed on to do it,” he told USA Today.

As for bringing “Ghostbusters” back from the past, Aykroyd added, “People who saw the first two, and loved the first two, will love this one.”

“That was always our goal, to make a really fun movie,” Katie Dippold, a co-writer of this “Ghostbusters,” told CNN. “[I] just hope people can go to theaters and see the things they love once again.”