This Is Where Ghostbusters: Afterlife Was Actually Filmed
When "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" answered the call in 2021, the film not only paid extensive homage to the original "Ghostbusters" legacy but also paved the way for a brand-new pack of paranormal hunters to carry the torch and marked a new setting for the franchise, taking things from the crammed-up New York City to the fictional countryside of Summerville, Oklahoma. Of course, creating this made-up city required some very real locations, all of which, surprisingly enough, are located nowhere near the Southern state.
The film's shooting locations took place in a variety of areas in and around the province of Alberta, Canada. The Spengler farm was built just south of Calgary in the town of Foothills County. The town of Drumheller, located northeast of Calgary, was also heavily featured, with much of its downtown area and Horsethief Canyon being used. The Shandor Mining entrance was filmed at the ferry bridge in Dorothy, a hamlet northeast of Calgary that is also featured in highway shots of the Ecto-1. Other notable areas include Crossfield and Fort MacLeod, the latter being featured in a notable moment when Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) and her friends are hunting down Muncher (Josh Gad).
While Canada is perhaps the last place anyone would expect a "Ghostbusters" movie to be filmed, the team certainly made the most of it. In fact, shooting here ended up being more fulfilling for "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" director Jason Reitman than he was anticipating.
Shooting in Alberta had more meaning for Jason Reitman
Despite being born in Montreal, Jason Reitman never considered shooting the film in Canada. More important to him was trying to capture a special feel through the location. "Afterlife" supervising location manager Bruce Brownstein described what Reitman was looking for in an interview with the Calgary Herald, saying, "[Production designer Francois Audouy] and Jason wanted everything to be of an indeterminate period. ... We wanted it to look like ... [the] grandfather as a ghostbuster could have walked down the same street and it wouldn't have looked any different."
Originally, the "Juno" and "Up in the Air" director sought out spots in New Mexico and Oklahoma. But then his father, Ivan Reitman, who helmed the first two "Ghostbusters" installments, suggested that the team use Alberta for their filming location. It was a first for the younger filmmaker, but it didn't take long for him to warm up to the area, saying at the 2019 Calgary International Film Festival, "It's absolutely stunning here. ... I love it here. We have an amazing cast and crew; local actors, local crew. You've been incredible hosts to 'Ghostbusters.'"
The setting of any film is important, and it's safe to say that the "Ghostbusters" movies would be nothing without their defining locations. "Afterlife" is no exception, and Reitman and company put in no less than their best efforts to think outside the box for their contribution to the iconic franchise.