New Ghostbusters HasLab Campaign Gives Fans What They Want--And Puts Louis Tully Front And Center

As a die-hard Ghostbusters fan who has been collecting memorabilia for decades, I can’t help but feel my heart race at the sight of this new Plasma Series Ecto-1! Growing up, the Ecto-1 was more than just a car to me; it was an iconic symbol of adventure, friendship, and the fight against the paranormal.


2024 signifies two significant events for the Ghostbusters series: it’s the 40th birthday of the initial movie and the 35th anniversary of the second. To celebrate these milestones, Hasbro has launched a HasLab campaign covering both films. Their latest product, exclusive to the Plasma Series line, features characters that have never been included before: Eleanore Twitty (Ruth Oliver), the librarian ghost, and Louis Tully (Rick Moranis) in his iconic jumpsuit.

The campaign comes in two tiers, one for each movie. The “base” model includes the Ecto-1 car, Eleanore, and a brand-new Slimer figure. That set is being offered for about $350. Alternatively, the “deluxe” tier includes the car and both figures, plus an Ecto-1A rooftop conversion kit that was seen in Ghostbuster 2. Also included are all four Ghostbusters in their dark gray suits from the sequel and a slew of accessories, all for a $400 pledge. The crowdfunding campaign ends on December 2 and is currently slightly over halfway funded.

At New York Comic Con’s Hasbro Pulse event, TopMob had a chance to chat with designers Pat Dennis and Emily Bader from Hasbro about their campaign, the significance of the Plasma Series to them, and the efforts required to make it happen – particularly obtaining likeness rights for Twitty.

In any partnership involving licensing for films, it’s typically the partners who handle most of the work. In our case with Eleanore Twitty, or actress Ruth Oliver, she has sadly passed away, so we had to find her estate instead. Luckily, Sony and Ghost Corps managed to locate the necessary contacts and secured approval. Unlike the library ghost which usually appears as a sort of haunted ape, we’ve never shown her as the librarian character before. For me, it’s that image of the shushing librarian I long to see – it perfectly resembles her.

A much-requested character that fans are eagerly anticipating is Louis Tully, portrayed by comedian Rick Moranis as a nervous yet kind friend. To entice early supporters and reach the fundraising goal, Hasbro has introduced a Louis Tully figure, dressed in a jumpsuit and equipped with ghostbusting accessories – some of which were not originally seen in the sequel, but they enhance the overall appearance. However, this figure will only be available if the fundraising goal is reached by November 2nd.

As a gamer, I’m super excited about reaching our goal because that means Tully will join us with a proton pack, proton stream, PKE meter, and trap! The fan community has been asking for more accessories, and I wanted this project to deliver as much as possible. I reached out to Emily to see if we could include a PKE and a trap with Tully, and she was on board! If you’re new to the Plasma Series collection, I want it to be a complete package for you.

In the movie Ghostbusters II, there’s a scene where Tully believes he single-handedly saved New York City as a Ghostbuster. This scene suggests that he deserves all the necessary equipment to be a true Ghostbuster. Essentially, this moment was not only about equipping him but also recognizing him as an official member of the team.

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“For me, the Ecto-1 is just as much [of] a character as the rest of the cast. There are a few cars that have earned that. It’s not just a car, [and] it’s not just transportation–it has a personality. If you see it driving down the street, you’re going to grab your phone as fast as possible to take a picture. The Ecto-1 is a beautiful car, but to see it in person to be able to ride in it in person, it’s just…it takes you right back the first time you saw the movie or if you saw them at Universal Studios in the parade. It’s an instant pullback and you feel like they’re out there, being paranormal pest control.”

Dennis elaborated on another notable feature: when you connect a USB-C cable to the vehicle, it illuminates, essentially transforming it into a lamp. He believed that the Ecto-1 had been a significant piece that was lacking in the collection. “It’s an element that has been absent from our Plasma series,” he said. “We’ve produced six and seven-inch figures before, as well as more premium ones, but none of them ever had an Ecto to occupy. This was something we were well-suited for and it looks great on a shelf.

As a devoted fan myself, I can relate to the excitement when a new Plasma Series entry arrives after some time. Knowing this, we’ve been eager to address some long-standing requests from fellow fans. Three key aspects that kept resurfacing were the inclusion of more ghosts, representation of Ghostbusters II, and vehicles. This HasLab project is designed to fulfill all three of these desires. Here’s hoping our efforts meet your expectations!

For more information on the Ghostbusters HasLab, check out the full campaign.

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2024-10-25 18:09