Bill Murray has pulled the proton pack out of storage to play Dr. Peter Venkman again, this time in a 70-second ad for Rivian. “Answering the Call” went live on 8 October and promotes a Ghostbusters-themed Halloween software update for the brand’s electric vehicles.
IGN describes the spot as a suburban fridge raid. Slimer is tearing through a family’s kitchen when Venkman arrives in the “Ecto-R1”, a Rivian R1S SUV dressed up as the original Ecto-1. Consequence notes that Venkman doesn’t even need to leave the car to deal with the ghost. Gil Kenan directed the ad, as he did for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire in 2024, Murray’s last outing in the role.
What the update adds
The update covers the R1S, the R1T pickup, and the newer R2 SUV. According to IGN, it brings a Ghostbusters interface to the centre touchscreen, custom sounds, a Slimer settings theme, and light-bar and cabin lighting themes such as Proton Pack and Ghost Trap. A Trick or Treat Mode can detect costumed visitors and greet them with sound effects and lights.
TechRadar saw the update in an R2 at a New York event. Its reporter says the screen becomes a Ghostbusters control panel, with presets for Ecto-1, Proton Pack, Slimer, Ghost Trap, Peter Venkman, and Random, plus Manual and Motion modes. Motion Mode triggers the effects when someone moves near the car. The theme also appears on the driver display and in the Android and iOS apps.
When the car is parked or charging, you can play “Mallow Mash”, an arcade game in which you pop Mini-Pufts. Murray reportedly found it hard.
The software versions are 2026.36.40 for the R2 and 2026.36.0 for the R1, according to TechRadar. IGN says the theme runs from launch through 2 November.
The Ecto-R1
The Ecto-R1 itself is a one-off. TechRadar describes a white R1S with Ghostbusters logos, vintage-style police lights, and equipment on the roof and in the rear. At the event, Murray called it “just technical enough, and just silly enough to be perfect”.
Rivian’s R2 started shipping earlier this year. IGN says its base price is $45,000, though only the $58,000 tri-motor Performance version is currently available. Rivian hasn’t announced UAE availability for the update or the vehicles in the sources we reviewed.
The ad follows a familiar pattern for studios and brands mining nostalgia, as with the return of Scooby-Doo in a new Netflix series. Here, the franchise sells software that costs Rivian nothing to ship.
Which Rivian models get the Ghostbusters update?
The R1S, R1T, and R2 all receive it as an over-the-air update, according to IGN.
How long does the Ghostbusters theme last?
IGN reports it runs from 8 October through 2 November.
Can you play Mallow Mash while driving?
No. The game runs only when the vehicle is parked or charging.
