Given the strike action that essentially put Hollywood on hold for the summer, it can feel like everything was deep frozen.
And the delays have affected the ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ sequel –– which the new trailer confirms is called ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ –– with its release date moved at least once.
But to get back to the freezing idea, as the title suggests, the new movie (which returns the setting to the original two movies’ New York locales), sees the Big Apple turn into the Big Chill when a mysterious cold front threatens our heroes and everyone else.
What’s the story of ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’?
‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.’ Photo: Sony Pictures.
In ‘Frozen Empire’, the Spengler family returns to where it all started –– the iconic New York City firehouse – to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who’ve developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level.
But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age.
Who is in ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’?
(L to R) Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, and Logan Kim in ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife.’
As the synopsis suggests, the movie will blend the new cast and the original ‘Ghostbusters’ folk once again, with Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Celeste O’Connor, Logan Kim, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Annie Potts all back.
New this time are Kumail Nanjiani and Patton Oswalt, while William Atherton is returning from the original 1984 movie as smug EPA bureaucrat Walter Peck. Not appearing (unless she shows up for another end credits scene)? Sigourney Weaver.
‘Afterlife’ was directed by Jason Reitman, who wrote the script with Gil Kenan. This time the roles are reversed, with Kenan in the director’s chair and Reitman (son of original ‘Ghostbusters’ writer/director Ivan) as co-writer.
Here’s what Kenan said about the directing gig when it was first announced:
“It’s an absolute honor to pick up the proton pack and step behind the camera for the next chapter of the Spengler family saga. I just wish I could go back to 1984 and tell the kid in the sixth row of the Mann Valley West that one day he was going to get to direct a ‘Ghostbusters’ film.”
The trailer is certainly epic in scope (even compared to Afterlife’) and has a few nods to the first film, including one of the New York Public Library lions coming to life –– the library is key to the opening of the 1984 movie.
And we must admit it’ll be fun to see Rudd suiting up alongside the kids this time as opposed to being possessed by the evil forces.
When is ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ in theaters?
The latest ‘Ghostbusters’ movie will open on March 29th, 2024.
(L to R) Mckenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard in ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife.’
