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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 explained gozer
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Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Latest News

Not long after the legacy sequel bumped its release date up to March 22nd, 2024, a full trailer for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire has been released. Unlike previous trailers which simply teased the newest villain, the full trailer gave some key details about the Death Chill while also revealing the return of several classic characters. As always, the two-minute preview also emphasized the franchise's omnipresent humor.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Release Date

Paul Rudd in front of a white board in Ghostbusters Afterlife

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

Mckenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard in the Ghostbusters car in Ghostbusters Afterlife

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

Finn Wolfhard as Trevor and Paul Rudd as Gary in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.
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Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Story Details

Finn Wolfhard wielding a proton pack in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.

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

Mckenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard driving the car in Ghostbusters Afterlife

Unlike the previous teaser which did just that and teased the franchise's newest villain, the full trailer for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire revealed a bit more about the Death Chill. As is always the case with a legacy sequel trailer, the snippet leaned heavily into nostalgia and showed off all the classic returning characters, including a few familiar ghosts like Slimer. The trailer also gives fans their first look at William Atherton's return as the notorious villain Walter Peck, who intends to shut the Ghostbusters down once and for all.