Bill Murray Suits Up as Venkman Again for Rivian's Ghostbusters Halloween Update

Bill Murray is back as Dr. Peter Venkman — not in a movie, but in a 70-second ad for Rivian electric vehicles. The spot promotes a limited Ghostbusters Halloween software update rolling out today across the R1S SUV, R1T pickup, and the newer R2 SUV, and it runs through November 2.

The ad shows Murray's Venkman rolling up to a Slimer-infested suburban house in the "Ecto-R1," a Rivian R1S dressed up to look like the original Ecto-1 ambulance-hearse. The actual software update is more than just cosmetic: owners get a Ghostbusters-themed UI on the center touchscreen, a mini-game called 'Mallow Mash where you squash flying Mini-Pufts, custom sound effects, a Slimer settings theme, and a Trick or Treat Mode that detects costumed guests and greets them with Ghostbusters lights and sounds. Custom lighting themes — including Proton Pack and Ghost Trap styles — extend to the exterior light bars, cabin lights, and overhead lights, plus there are hidden Easter eggs to find.

Rivian launched the R2 earlier this year to strong reviews. It carries the same design language as the well-regarded R1S but comes in smaller and cheaper — base price is $45,000, though right now only the tri-motor Performance model is shipping, starting at $58,000. Murray last played Venkman in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire in 2024. On the gaming side, the most recent Ghostbusters title was Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed in 2022, an asymmetrical multiplayer game that landed to middling reviews.

The tie-up is a neat piece of Halloween marketing for Rivian, which is still working to establish itself against Tesla and legacy automakers in the EV truck and SUV space. Whether it moves cars is another question, but it's hard to argue with Bill Murray busting ghosts in a $58,000 electric SUV as a way to get attention.