After the huge success of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Ghostbusters 5 is on the way, but which characters are returning and where is the sequel set?
Summary
- The Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire release date has been moved to March 22nd, 2024, after initially being delayed by the Hollywood strikes.
- The talented cast of Ghostbusters: Afterlife will return for the sequel, along with original cast members like Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd.
- The sequel will continue the Spengler family's story and bring the series back to familiar locations while maintaining the beloved Ghostbusters tone.
Following the success of the soft reboot Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the sequel was fast-tracked by Sony — and the Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire news is coming in quickly. The Ghostbusters series started in 1984, and the classic fantasy comedy movie became a huge success thanks to its unique high concept, a hit theme song, and stellar chemistry between its comedic leads. However, following the beloved original film, the Ghostbusters series fell from grace, as Ghostbusters II was generally considered a disappointment when it was released and Ghostbusters III received a mixed-to-negative reception in 2016.
2021's Ghostbusters: Afterlife saved the franchise and was considered a significant return to form for the Ghostbusters series. The movie was full of energy, excitement, and fantasy, and it was surprisingly emotional too, as it brought back original characters including Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd. The refreshing take was mostly thanks to writer-director Jason Reitman, who was previously known for emotionally resonant indie films, and he injected some of that energy into the blockbuster Ghostbusters franchise. The 2021 movie's success ensured a sequel of its own, and the Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire news is hugely revealing.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife Ending & All Hidden Meanings Explained
Ghostbusters: Afterlife's ending saw the return of familiar faces and sets up a potential sequel that could tie directly into the events of the film.Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Latest News
After a year full of delays due to the Hollywood strikes, the latest news regarding the much-anticipated legacy sequel is that Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire has bumped its release date up and will arrive sooner than originally announced. Initially slated to arrive on March 29th, 2024, the movie will now premiere a week earlier on March 22nd. Though the film is a sure-fire hit, the move is likely to take advantage of the spring break box office surge. Sony joins Warner Bros. in shifting several of its big releases around, and Godzilla X Kong is also arriving sooner than expected.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Release Date
Due to the fact that Sony has pushed back releases on seven movies because of Hollywood strikes, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire was set to release on March 29th, 2024. However, it has now been moved forward to March 22nd, 2024, a week earlier. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire isn't the only film affected by the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, as Sony has also pushed back Gran Turismo, Madame Web, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, and more.
The WGA strike was resolved on September 27th, 2023, and the SAG/AFTRA strike was resolved on November 9th, 2023.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Cast
Continuing the success of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, a large portion of the cast of the film will be back in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. The new de-facto star of the franchise, Paul Rudd, is returning as Gary Grooberson along with Finn Wolfhard as Trevor. They'll be joined by Carrie Coon as Callie and McKenna Grace as Phoebe Spengler. Comedian Patton Oswalt also joins the cast in an as-yet-unnamed role. Along with the mass return of Afterlife's new cast, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire isn't skimping on the nostalgia either, as many of the recognizable cast members from the classic Ghostbusters films will also be back, including:
Actor | Ghostbusters Role |
|---|---|
Bill Murray | Peter Venkman |
Dan Aykroyd | Ray Stantz |
Ernie Hudson | Winston Zeddemore |
Annie Potts | Janine Melnitz |
William Atherton | Walter Peck |
Ghostbusters 5 Cast Guide: Which Characters Are Returning For The Afterlife Sequel
The Ghostbusters 5 cast sees returning favorites from Ghostbusters: Afterlife, including Mckenna Grace, as well as legacy actors like Ernie Hudson.Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Story Details
Along with the trailer and official title, the plot for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire has finally been released, and it sees the team facing their biggest challenge yet. New York City is suddenly plunged into a new ice age as a supernatural artifact unleashes the "death chill" which has the power to literally frighten people to a frigid death. It is going to take Ghostbusters from every generation to stop the new supernatural threat, as the Big Apple is besieged by a spooky mid-summer freeze.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Trailer
With the release of the official Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire trailer in November 2023, audiences have gotten their first real glimpse at the newest entry in the classic franchise. Besides revealing the plot and teasing some of the more exciting action moments, the trailer also confirms that the classic Ghostbusters characters aren't merely making cameo appearances. Dan Aykroyd's Ray Stantz is seen giving sage advice to his young ghost-hunting counterparts, and from Aykroyd's enthusiasm about the future of the franchise, it is clear he wants to play a big part.
The trailer includes Bananarama's "Cruel Summer" which is yet another nostalgic nod to the decade that spawned the original movie. Additionally, the trailer also introduces new characters such as the one played by Patton Oswalt, and even drops a few hints about a potential new villain. Most importantly, the trailer will help generate interest in the movie as its March 2024 release date nears, which could help Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire stay competitive in the crowded early summer movie season.
