- Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire features original stars, including Annie Potts as Janine, taking on a new supernatural threat in New York City.
- Janine’s role as a Ghostbuster has precedent in animated series, and her live-action appearance will excite fans.
- The film includes familiar faces from Ghostbusters Afterlife and could determine the future of the franchise with its quick turn-around.
The Ghostbusters franchise didn’t spend a lot of time with the original stars from the 1984 hit comedy and its sequel when Ghostbusters Afterlife hit the screen in 2021. However, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is bringing back Venkman, Aykroyd, and Zeddemore as the main characters, and it looks like they have a new member ready to make them a foursome again.
Annie Potts reprises her role as Janine Melnitz in the upcoming movie, donning the iconic boiler suit and joining her former employers to battle the latest spooky threat to New York City. Potts discussed Janine’s increased role in a recent edition of Empire Magazine, saying:
“It’s a desperate situation, so it’s all hands on deck. It turns out Janine is quite capable – as most women tend to be when given the chance. It came as a real surprise. We were weeks into shooting and Gil [Kenan, director] came up to me and said, ‘We think it’s time… We’re gonna have you suit up.’
I have to say I did [get a kick out of it]. Janine has served long and well, and I felt like she was finally getting her stripes, you know? She’s clearly stayed in touch with the guys [between Ghostbusters II and Afterlife/Frozen Empire], and she’s really been the keeper of the flame at the Firehouse. The Ghostbusters are kind of superheroes, so it’s very nice to finally be seen in that way, too.”
Janine’s transition from secretary to Ghostbuster is not entirely new, as she has previously been depicted in this role in episodes of the animated series The Real Ghostbusters and Extreme Ghostbusters. Nevertheless, seeing her suit up in the live-action film will undoubtedly delight franchise fans. Frozen Empire takes inspiration from the animated series of the ’80s and ’90s, which created many memorable spooks that have yet to appear in live-action.
With the return of familiar faces from Afterlife, the film will feature a larger team than ever before as they face the ominous new threat. Considering the thirty-year wait between Ghostbusters II and Ghostbusters Afterlife, the relatively quick appearance of Frozen Empire is a welcome bonus for fans. Whether this is the last time the team suits up is uncertain, but if Frozen Empire reignites the March box office, there are many possible directions for the franchise.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is set to hit cinemas on March 22, 2024.