With 40 years of busting ghosts in movies, animated TV series, comics, video games and more, the latest entry in the Ghostbusters legacy, Frozen Empire, has a lot to live up to.
A follow-up to 2021’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the new entry will see returning and new characters, both living and in spectre form.
Ahead of its release this month, we take a look at what fans can expect from Frozen Empire!
NEW CREATURES
When a newly discovered ancient artifact arrives on the doorstep of Ray Stantz’s (Dan Aykroyd) Occult Books, bizarre manifestations ensue, bringing us new ghostly New York residents and an intense cold snap, blanketing New York City with ice in the middle of summer.
Two of the latest additions to the Ghostbusters grimoire are The Possessor and Pukey, whose powers you can probably already guess from their names. Another reveal is Sewer Dragon, a big and lanky creature, so speedy that the Ghostbusters need their Ecto-1 to pursue it.
Not much is known about the new big bad known as Garraka and their connection to the artifact, but what we do know is that he’s big and capable of inflicting a power called ‘The Death Chill’.
Of course, these new additions will be joined by old friends such as the Library Ghost and the hotdog-eating machine known as Slimer, as well as Afterlife favourites Mini-Pufts, plus many more if the below trailer is anything to go by.
NEW POSSIBILITIES
Things have changed since Afterlife. Thanks to Dr. Zeddemore’s (Ernie Hudson) much-needed financial backing, the Ghostbusters now have access to a new paranormal research centre, where ghosts are held and studied. And ghosts that have been left to roam now hang with the living!
New characters will also introduce change, such as Lars Pinfield (James Acaster), the inventor and scientist responsible for the Ghostbusters’ new gadgets and equipment. Ghost trap drones, new proton packs, and other awesome gear will be introduced in Frozen Empire, and the team will need all the help they can get for the storm we’ve seen in trailers!
FAMILIAR FACES
The Ghostbusters return to New York, complete with iconic firehouse and Ecto-1 (newly refurbished). We follow the Spengler family (Phoebe, Trevor, and Callie) and Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd) as they return to where it all began… and they’re not the only ones returning! Lucky Domingo (Celeste O’Connor) and Podcast (Logan Kim) from Afterlife also make a comeback.
Expect to see the original busting crew return too, including Winston Zeddemore, Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), and Ray Stantz, while Janine Melnitz (Annie Potts) suits up in uniform for the first time ever in live-action! OG fans will remember that Janine suited up in The Real Ghostbusters animated offering, so it’s good to see inspiration from the hit series.
As if that wasn’t enough, the Ghostbusters’ biggest critic, Walter Peck (William Atherton) is also set to return…
A GHOSTBUSTING LEGACY
A legacy of busting ghosting is not exclusive to the Spengler family. Off-screen, it can be found with co-writer and producer of Frozen Empire and director of Afterlife, Jason Reitman. His father, Ivan Reitman, is the director and producer of the first Ghostbusters movie and its sequel. Sadly, he passed away in 2022 before the production of Frozen Empire.
Frozen Empire director and co-writer Gil Kenan is no stranger to the franchise either, having co-written Afterlife with Jason Reitman. Influenced and inspired by the Real Ghostbusters animated series of the late ‘80s, Kenan told Empire Magazine, “We wanted to bring that show’s looseness and fearlessness to this movie”.
Frozen Empire is set to be a celebration of all things Ghostbusters and the start of a new direction for the franchise that will hopefully lead to new and innovative narratives.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is in cinemas on March 21.