What Does Zuul Mean? It’s Mentioned In The Credits Of The New 'Ghostbusters'

Fans of the Ghostbusters reboot are excited about the possibility of a sequel thanks to a familiar name dropped at the end of the movie. After the credits rolled, Patty Tolan, Leslie Jones' character, gives a shout-out to Zuul, which is kind of a huge deal for those familiar with the original film. For those wondering what Zuul means, remember that dragon dog thingy in the fridge of the original Ghostbusters? Or the gargoyle that came to life? Or the demon that possessed Dana Barrett, causing her to spurn Peter Venkman in favor of her nerdy neighbor, Louis Tully? Zuul. All Zuul.

Although the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man is the iconic "end boss" of the original Ghostbusters, he's not the real antagonist. That honor goes to Gozer the Destructor, an ancient god once worshipped by the Mesopotamians and later the Sumerians. Also known as The Traveler, Gozer is able to pass between worlds in order to conquer them, according to Tobin's Spirit Guide, but must gain access to each world with the help of two minions called the Gatekeeper and the Keymaster. In the 1984 Ghostbusters, Zuul served as the Gatekeeper, and Vinz Clortho, who possessed Louis Tully, served as the keymaster. Due to her role as Gatekeeper and her choice to possess a woman, Zuul is thought to be female.

In the early 20th century, a modern day Cult of Gozer arose, led by Ivo Shandor. The cult built a series of mechanisms around Manhattan with the intention of summoning Gozer, the centerpiece of which was Dana and Louis' apartment building. Increased paranormal activity in 1984 heralded the arrival of Gozer, who was able to access our world after Zuul and Vinz Clortho emerged from the gargoyles on the building, possessed two of its inhabitants, and, uh, "coupled." The original Ghostbusters defeated the trio, as well as the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, which was the physical manifestation of Gozer's wrath, but the demons weren't killed; just banished.

Now that we've taken care of that little fictional history lesson, there are a few questions that need answering, namely, did Patty hear Zuul's voice? Is Zuul going to return? Will Vinz Clortho also return, and will the two of them bring back Gozer? And if so, what will Gozer look like? Because that Ziggy Stardust look is kinda dated now. According to USA Today, Gozer was meant to look androgynous, so maybe Ruby Rose will show up in a Ghostbusters sequel? Fingers crossed!