After a cryptic announcement the previous day, Sony Pictures Entertainment releases the first teaser trailer for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Aside from confirming the full title of the 2024 film, the teaser reveals bringing both the new and old Ghostbusters together against a new supernatural threat.
In 2021, Ghostbusters: Afterlife rekindled the success of the franchise after the disaster that was 2016’s all-female Ghostbusters reboot (aka Ghostbusters: Answer the Call). Director Jason Reitman honored the Ghostbusters legacy by giving fans what they wanted: a continuation of the story with the OG Ghostbusters while introducing a new team for a new generation.
But there was one minor criticism of Afterlife and that is it leaned too heavily on the nostalgia, particularly with bringing Gozer back as the main antagonist. Well, that does not seem to be the case with Ghostbusters 4.
It'll send a chill down your spine. Watch the teaser trailer for #Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, coming soon exclusively to movie theaters. pic.twitter.com/wJuAVwcJNh
— Ghostbusters (@Ghostbusters) November 8, 2023
The new teaser trailer reveals an icy menace will be plaguing New York City. It starts off as something of a weather anomaly with a vibe similar to 2004’s The Day After Tomorrow.
The streets and skyscrapers of The Big Apple becomes a Winter Wonderland in mere moments, covering the area with ice. And the worst part is people get turned into human popsicles as they freeze to death. Ironically, the background music is Bananarama’s “Cruel Summer”.
Fortunately, the Spengler family (Carrie Coon, Mckenna Grace, and Finn Wolfhard), along with their friends Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd) and Podcast (Logan Kim) are teaming up with the original Ghostbusters Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), and Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) to revive the business. But it seems even the old guard Ghostbusters are unprepared for this new supernatural threat called the Death Chill.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is the first film without the involvement of director Ivan Reitman (who passed away in February 2022). Jason Reitman, who directed Afterlife, was set to initially direct Frozen Empire, but passed the reins to co-writer Gil Kenan.
One of the newcomers to the cast is Kumail Nanjiani (Marvel’s Eternals), who shared interesting insight to the plot of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. According to Nanjiani, the film will be like “a long episode of the animated series”.
Also I am a huge fan of The Real Ghostbusters (the animated series) and that show was a point of reference for this movie. The filmmakers wanted to make a long episode of the animated series. So if you love that show as I do, be excited.
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) November 9, 2023
The Real Ghostbusters was a spinoff of the 1984 Ghostbusters live-action film. The show first aired in September 1986 and ran for 7 seasons until 1991. Produced by DIC Enterprises and Columbia Pictures Television, The Real Ghostbusters received critical and fan acclaim for its innovative stories and pushing the envelope as to what was “too mature” for Saturday Morning cartoons.
What do you think of the teaser for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire? Are you happy or disappointed it won’t be Vigo The Carpathian causing havoc this time around for the second outing of the revived Ghostbusters franchise? Do you think it’s a good idea to take inspiration from The Real Ghostbusters animated series and translate it into live action?
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire arrives in theaters on March 29, 2024.
