Why Ivo Shandor Is More Important Than You Think In Ghostbusters: Afterlife
"Ghostbusters: Afterlife" has something for everyone, whether viewers are new to the franchise or as Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) says while driving Ecto-1 "coming in hot!" The film belongs to Phoebe (McKenna Grace) who, upon realizing her grandfather was Egon Spengler, immediately takes up the mantle of busting ghosts. Paul Rudd is a familiar face who makes the transition into this world easily, but viewers should keep a sharp eye out for all the easter eggs they missed in "Ghostbusters: Afterlife."
The film takes musical queues from the original films, likely to make original fans nostalgic. There are even a few post credit sequences that give more attention to the characters that first donned the iconic jumpsuits in "Ghostbusters." However, there are a few mentions that may have ghosted right past viewers' attention. First and foremost is the evil architect behind opening the gates of hell. Ivo Shandor has one line of dialogue in the film, but is integral to the mythology of the "Ghostbusters" universe.
Ivo's been around for a bit
Ivo Shandor is behind the evil rising in Summerville, but is relatively faceless for most of the film. As Lucky (Celeste O'Connor) remarks, his name is on everything in the town because he built it. It is his mine that becomes a shrine to Gozer and attempts to open a gateway to hell, but his roots connect all the way back to the first "Ghostbusters." The evil architect was a cultist who worshipped Gozer throughout his life. In "Ghostbusters," he designed the building on the 550 Central Park West address that Dana resides in and was instrumental in raising Gozer the first time.
This is relevant to "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" because the materials used for these constructions are elemental to conduct spectral energy. Phoebe (McKenna Grace) points out the material selenium is an odd choice to use in building, but no one takes proper heed of her words. Despite the Ghostbusters' best efforts, Gozer is resurrected along with Ivo Shandor himself. Even in death, Ivo Shandor cannot get over his obsession with Gozer and tries to bring it back again in "Ghostbusters: Afterlife." In a blink-and-you-might-miss-it cameo, J.K. Simmons plays the old cultist who is immediately pulled apart once Gozer rises. His defeat is that much more satisfactory knowing that he was a villain in the original "Ghostbusters."