Blab Entertainment
Documentary "Too Hot To Handle: Remembering Ghostbusters II" Wraps After Eight Years of Production
After eight years of chasing the specter of a late‑1980s sequel, the documentary Too Hot To Handle: Remembering Ghostbusters II has finally wrapped.
The UK‑based duo of Anthony and Claire Bueno endured a rocky journey that saw the COVID‑19 pandemic and a series of health setbacks delay filming. By 2026, they had finished the feature and secured worldwide rights through Unannounced Film Company, the same distributor that brought their earlier 2019 Ghostbusters retrospective to Amazon’s special‑interest video chart in 2020 and to the U.S. iTunes chart in 2021. The film is slated to premiere at a film festival or market later this fall.
Too Hot To Handle gathers more than 40 interviews with the original cast and crew, including Dan Aykroyd, the late Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, the late director‑producer Ivan Reitman, and ILM’s Dennis Muren. The documentary also incorporates never‑before‑seen archive footage and behind‑the‑scenes material supplied by the film’s participants.
Randy Edelman, who composed the score for the 1989 sequel, provides the documentary’s music. He said the soundtrack will underscore the emotional arc of the original film and that he is eager to bring the score to a live performance in the United Kingdom this month.
The documentary’s subject, Ghostbusters II, hit theaters on June 16, 1989. Directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, the film follows the team five years after the first movie’s success. After the Ghostbusters were sued and shut down following the destruction caused during their battle with Gozer, a new paranormal threat forces the group to reunite.
Production of the 1989 film was rushed. According to the film’s Wikipedia entry, large sections were cut after poorly received test screenings, and new scenes were shot during re‑shoots in March and April 1989—only two months before release. With a budget of $30–$40 million, the sequel earned $215.4 million worldwide. Critics gave it negative reviews, but audiences responded more positively, awarding it a CinemaScore of “A‑”. Columbia Pictures viewed the performance as a disappointment, prompting a long hiatus for the franchise.
The Ghostbusters brand has since been revived. A reboot arrived in 2016, followed by Ghostbusters: Afterlife in 2021 and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire in 2024. An animated television series is slated for release next year.
Director Anthony Bueno described the project as a labour of love: “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.” Composer Randy Edelman added that the music reflects more than just the plot, noting his appreciation for the people who contributed to the film.
With world rights secured and a fall festival window set, Too Hot To Handle: Remembering Ghostbusters II promises a fresh perspective on a pivotal moment in late‑1980s cinema, and it marks the culmination of a long‑term project that sought to illuminate the legacy of a franchise that continues to resonate.
The UK‑based duo of Anthony and Claire Bueno endured a rocky journey that saw the COVID‑19 pandemic and a series of health setbacks delay filming. By 2026, they had finished the feature and secured worldwide rights through Unannounced Film Company, the same distributor that brought their earlier 2019 Ghostbusters retrospective to Amazon’s special‑interest video chart in 2020 and to the U.S. iTunes chart in 2021. The film is slated to premiere at a film festival or market later this fall.
Too Hot To Handle gathers more than 40 interviews with the original cast and crew, including Dan Aykroyd, the late Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, the late director‑producer Ivan Reitman, and ILM’s Dennis Muren. The documentary also incorporates never‑before‑seen archive footage and behind‑the‑scenes material supplied by the film’s participants.
Randy Edelman, who composed the score for the 1989 sequel, provides the documentary’s music. He said the soundtrack will underscore the emotional arc of the original film and that he is eager to bring the score to a live performance in the United Kingdom this month.
The documentary’s subject, Ghostbusters II, hit theaters on June 16, 1989. Directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, the film follows the team five years after the first movie’s success. After the Ghostbusters were sued and shut down following the destruction caused during their battle with Gozer, a new paranormal threat forces the group to reunite.
Production of the 1989 film was rushed. According to the film’s Wikipedia entry, large sections were cut after poorly received test screenings, and new scenes were shot during re‑shoots in March and April 1989—only two months before release. With a budget of $30–$40 million, the sequel earned $215.4 million worldwide. Critics gave it negative reviews, but audiences responded more positively, awarding it a CinemaScore of “A‑”. Columbia Pictures viewed the performance as a disappointment, prompting a long hiatus for the franchise.
The Ghostbusters brand has since been revived. A reboot arrived in 2016, followed by Ghostbusters: Afterlife in 2021 and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire in 2024. An animated television series is slated for release next year.
Director Anthony Bueno described the project as a labour of love: “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.” Composer Randy Edelman added that the music reflects more than just the plot, noting his appreciation for the people who contributed to the film.
With world rights secured and a fall festival window set, Too Hot To Handle: Remembering Ghostbusters II promises a fresh perspective on a pivotal moment in late‑1980s cinema, and it marks the culmination of a long‑term project that sought to illuminate the legacy of a franchise that continues to resonate.
