Summary

• Ghostbusters 6 is not confirmed yet, but the box-office success of Frozen Empire will likely determine the franchise's future.
• No updates on potential Ghostbusters 6 cast members or storyline direction.
• A sequel could potentially involve the Spengler family and introduce a new big-bad villain.

The release of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire marked the triumphant return of the popular 1980s franchise, but will the supernatural comedy action return in Ghostbusters 6? Perhaps one of the most beloved '80s movies, Ghostbusters followed a group of down-and-out paranormal scientists who devise a method of trapping ghosts, and set about servicing New York City as supernatural exterminators. The movie was a critical and financial hit, and helped to launch a multimedia empire that spanned sequels, TV shows, toys, and video games.

While 1989's Ghostbusters II captured some of the original's magic, it failed to keep the momentum going and the 'Busters were off the big screen for decades. An extremely divisive 2016 reboot tried to restart the franchise fresh with an all-female cast, but the film was doomed by internet hate and a generally poorly executed final product. Luckily, 2021's Ghostbusters: Afterlife put the franchise back on the right course, and its 2024 follow-up continued the trend in the biggest adventure yet. With Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire out of the way, it's unclear if Ghostbusters 6 will happen.

Ghostbusters 6 Is Not Confirmed

No Updates On Another Ghostbusters Movie Yet

Though Ghostbusters: Afterlife is already shaping up to be a blockbuster epic that can rival even the original film, there has been no news of a possible Ghostbusters 6. While initial reviews of Frozen Empire have been poor, that isn't the metric with which Hollywood decides a movie's success. Critical laurels are always nice, but Hollywood movies live and die by their box office figures, and the Ghostbusters franchise has been a consistent moneymaker when done right. The nostalgia-centric execution of Frozen Empire is bound to make it a box-office gem, but only time will tell if the movie is a hit.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is currently in theaters.

Dan Aykroyd had previously expressed a desire to do Ghostbusters sequels involving the original crew, but those seemed less plausible than follow-ups to Afterlife. However, with the open-ended nature of the Ghostbusters universe, there is always the possibility that a new team could rise, or Ghostbusters 6 could be another hard or soft reboot of the long-standing series.

Ghostbusters 6 Cast

Who Could Return?

The cast of Ghostbusters 6 will largely depend on what direction the sequel decides to go in, and that could impact who returns to reprise their roles. The Spengler family has carried the series throughout Afterlife and Frozen Empire, and they will likely continue to be the center of the story in a possible Ghostbusters 6. McKenna Grace's Phoebe and Finn Wolfhard's Trevor represent the next generation of Ghostbusters as they take after their late grandfather, Egon (Harold Ramis).

The cast of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire not only brought back the surviving Ghostbusters once again but also brought back other legacy characters like Annie Potts' Janine and Walter Peck, played by William Atherton. If Ghostbusters 6 were to happen, it could once again rely on the nostalgia of the original characters, or it could invest time into building the new characters as they continue to learn the ropes of ghost hunting.

The most logical returns for Ghostbusters 6 include:

Ghostbusters 6 Story Possibilities

Anything Could Happen In Ghostbusters 6

Unlike Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the ending of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire doesn't tease some next grand adventure, and leaves the door wide open for more. While nothing is confirmed yet, Ghostbusters 6 will probably be another standalone adventure involving the new heroes of Afterlife and Frozen Empire. The arrival of the franchise's latest villain, Garraka, introduced more horror into the generally light-hearted series, and that trend could continue with a new big-bad.

Nearly all the Ghostbusters movies follow a similar theme involving a larger ghost boss that must be defeated against impossible odds. One possible direction for Ghostbusters 6 would be to buck that trend and follow the Spengler clan in a more personal manner, including Trevor and Phoebe's transition into young adulthood. Even if Ghostbusters 6 is more traditional in its storytelling, it will almost certainly be an exciting ride from start to finish.