- Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire continues the story from Ghostbusters: Afterlife and introduces new characters alongside the original cast.
- Mckenna Grace described working with Bill Murray as having “a third director” on set during filming of Afterlife.
- The film draws inspiration from The Real Ghostbusters animated series, aiming to create a long episode-like experience for fans.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire brings back the original supernatural-smashing team and introduces some fresh faces to the mix. The movie is set to continue the story from Ghostbusters: Afterlife, with the original trio of Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), and Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) returning to the New York City firehouse where it all began in 1984. Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Logan Kim, and Mckenna Grace as Phoebe Spengler are also set to return from the 2021 legacy sequel.
During a recent appearance at Steel City Con, Grace answered audience questions about her experience working on Ghostbusters. When asked about working with the ever-unpredictable Bill Murray, she said, “I talked with Jason and Ivan both a lot, and while I was on set, I had Jason directing me, and I had Ivan directing me, and whenever Bill was on set, Bill was like a third director, so I was constantly getting advice and input on what to do. It was lovely.”
While Ghostbusters: Afterlife paid homage to the franchise’s legacy with the return of iconic villain Gozer, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire will introduce a new villain and story while still incorporating the classic Ghostbusters action. The first trailer for the sequel reveals that a “Death Chill” threatens to take over New York City and plunge the world into a new ice age. Eternals star and franchise newcomer Kumail Nanjiani mentioned that the film is inspired by the classic animated spin-off series, The Real Ghostbusters. He said, “I am a huge fan of The Real Ghostbusters (the animated series) and that show was a point of reference for this movie. The filmmakers wanted to make a long episode of the animated series. So if you love that show as I do, be excited.”
The gap between Ghostbusters 2 in 1989 and Ghostbusters: Afterlife more than three decades later left many fans wondering why a new film couldn’t draw from the plethora of ghostly stories in the seven seasons of The Real Ghostbusters animated series. But with the release of Afterlife and its successful integration of the original team, fans can look forward to a continuation of the Ghostbusters legacy on the big screen. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is set to premiere in theaters on March 29, 2024.