The “Ghostbusters” franchise has proven to be unkillable, thanks to the 2021 film “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” breathing a fresh take in the beloved canon.
Now, the sequel “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” marks the return of reboot characters the Spengler family, played by matriarch Carrie Coon, “Stranger Things” star Finn Wolfhard, and Grace Mckenna. Paul Rudd is back as teacher Gary Grooberson, who helped the Spenglers discover why supernatural occurrences were taking place after moving into a new house. The tie to the original 1984 “Ghostbusters,” complete with the Spengler family connection, also saw the return of stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Ernie Hudson, and Annie Potts.
Murray, Aykroyd, and Hudson appear in the “Frozen Empire” trailer.
“Frozen Empire” brings the gang back to the famed New York City firehouse, the original headquarters for the “Ghostbusters” crew. The film centers on a record-hot summer that gets frozen over by supernatural forces, known as the Death Chill which has the “power to kill by fear itself,” as Murray says in the trailer. “Like, literally scared to death?” Rudd asks.
Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, and comedian James Acaster join the ensemble cast for the follow-up film helmed by Gil Kenan using a script co-written by Kenan, 2021 “Afterlife” director Jason Reitman, and Jason Blumenfeld.
“A few years ago, my father handed me the keys to Ecto-1, and together we made ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife,’” Reitman told Deadline upon the announcement of the sequel, citing father Ivan Reitman’s original “Ghostbusters” films. “Words will never express how grateful I am to have made a film with my father by my side. It’s now time to hand those keys to my creative partner and fellow Ghostbuster Gil Kenan, a brilliant director who will keep the Spengler spirit alive. I can only hope to provide him the same producorial care and support that my father showed me.”
Reitman also teased a return of Vigo The Carpathian from “Ghostbusters II” for the “Afterlife” sequel. The film was originally slated to be released December 20 but was pushed back due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.
“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” premieres March 29 from Sony Pictures. Check out the teaser below.
