Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire | |
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Directed by | Gil Kenan |
Written by |
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Based on | |
Produced by |
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Starring | |
Cinematography | Eric Steelberg |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Sony Pictures Releasing |
Release date |
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Country | United States |
Language | English |
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is an upcoming American supernatural comedy film directed by Gil Kenan, who co-wrote it with Jason Reitman. It is the sequel to Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) and the fifth film in the Ghostbusters franchise. The film stars Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Celeste O'Connor, Logan Kim, alongside Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, and William Atherton reprising their characters from the earlier films, while Kumail Nanjiani and Patton Oswalt join the cast. In the film, following the events of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the veteran Ghostbusters join forces with their rookies to save the world in New York City.
Following the success of Afterlife, Sony Pictures announced the sequel in April 2022, with Reitman returning as director. Kenan would later take over as director from Reitman that December, while the rest of the cast reprised their roles. New cast members including Nanjiani, Oswalt, Acaster, and Lind were announced in March 2023, with principal photography commencing that month and wrapping it in June. It is the first film in the Ghostbusters franchise made without the involvement of Ivan Reitman, who directed the first two films and produced subsequent films until his death in February 2022.[1]
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is scheduled to be released in the United States on March 29, 2024, by Sony Pictures Releasing.[2][3]
Premise
In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the Spengler family decide to leave Summerville, Oklahoma and go back to where it all started – the iconic New York City firehouse – and help the original Ghostbusters, who've developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level! But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes a mysterious and evil force, known as the Death Chill, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a deadly and unpredictable fate that unknowingly, could affect earth’s history with a second Ice Age.
Cast
- Paul Rudd as Gary Grooberson
- Carrie Coon as Callie Spengler
- Finn Wolfhard as Trevor Spengler
- Mckenna Grace as Phoebe Spengler
- Celeste O'Connor as Lucky Domingo
- Logan Kim as Podcast[5]
- Dan Aykroyd as Dr. Raymond "Ray" Stantz[6]
- Ernie Hudson as Dr. Winston Zeddemore[7]
- Annie Potts as Janine Melnitz[8]
- Bill Murray as Dr. Peter Venkman[9]
- William Atherton as Walter Peck[10]
- Patton Oswalt as Hubert
Additionally, Kumail Nanjiani, James Acaster and Emily Alyn Lind have been cast in undisclosed roles.
Production
Development
Following the release of Ghostbusters: Afterlife in November 2021, Dan Aykroyd has expressed interest in having the surviving cast of the original Ghostbusters team reprise their roles in up to three sequels.[11]
In April 2022, it was announced that a sequel to Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) was in early development at Sony Pictures.[12][13]
In June 2022, the film was confirmed by director Jason Reitman under the working title Firehouse.[14] That same month it was announced that the sequel would take place in New York City.[15] On June 28, 2022, The Hollywood Reporter announced that the film will be released on December 20, 2023.[16] On October 5, 2022, Mckenna Grace announced that she would reprise her role.[17] The following month, Ernie Hudson revealed he read a script for the film.[18]
In December 2022, it was announced that Gil Kenan would take over as director from Reitman, who still remains as a writer and producer. It was also announced that Paul Rudd, Finn Wolfhard, and Carrie Coon would return.[19] In March 2023, it was announced that Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, James Acaster and Emily Alyn Lind had been cast in the film.[20]
In an April 25, 2023 interview with The Film Collective, Ernie Hudson seemingly confirmed that Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, and Annie Potts would be appearing in the film saying "It's great to be back with Danny and Bill and Annie Potts and the new cast. It's been forty years, it just feels like family."[21]
Aykroyd confirmed he was in the midst of filming the sequel during an appearance on the BBC’s Saturday Kitchen on 3 June 2023.
Filming
Principal photography began on March 20, 2023, in London,[22] under the working title Firehouse, with Eric Steelberg serving as the cinematographer.[7][23]
Filming was spotted in New York City where Casey Neistat caught a stunt scene in a video posted on June 7, 2023 while documenting the effects of the 2023 Canadian wildfires on New York City. Filming wrapped on June 23.[24]
Release
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is scheduled to be released by Sony Pictures Releasing on March 29, 2024, taking over the original release date of Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.[3] It was previously scheduled to be released on December 20, 2023,[2] but it was delayed to March 29, 2024 due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.[3]
In April 2021, Sony signed deals with Netflix and Disney for the rights to their 2022 to 2026 film slate, following the films' theatrical and home media windows. Netflix signed for exclusive "pay 1 window" streaming rights, which is typically an 18-month window and included Ghostbusters: Afterlife and its past films. Disney signed for "pay 2 window" rights for the films, which would be streamed on Disney+ and Hulu as well as broadcast on Disney's linear television networks.[25]
Marketing
On November 8, 2023, Sony released the first teaser trailer, which officially revealed the title as Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, as well as revealing the synopsis for the film.[4]
References
- ^ Bahr, Lindsey (February 13, 2022). "Ivan Reitman, producer, 'Ghostbusters' director, dies at 75". AP NEWS. Archived from the original on March 10, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
- ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 28, 2022). "Sony Dates 'Ghostbusters' Sequel For 2023". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- ^ a b c Lopez, Kristen (July 28, 2023). "Sony Pushes 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' Sequel to Easter 2024". TheWrap. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
- ^ a b https://www.sonypictures.co.uk/movies/ghostbusters-frozen-empire
- ^ "'Ghostbusters' Sequel Confirmed To Return Franchise To New York City – Sony CinemaCon Presentation". Deadline. April 24, 2023. Archived from the original on May 3, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- ^ Fitzsimmons, Jason (June 2, 2023). "Dan Aykroyd says next Ghostbusters will include "good scares and great comedy," talks handing the franchise off to a new generation". Ghostbusters News. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
- ^ a b Squires, John (March 20, 2023). "'Firehouse' – Filming on the Next 'Ghostbusters' Movie Kicked Off Today". Bloody Disgusting!. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ^ Fitzsimmons, Jason (June 8, 2023). "Watch Ghostbusters sequel cast wish fans a "Happy Ghostbusters Day"". Ghostbusters News. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ Fitzsimmons, Jason (June 14, 2023). "Dan Aykroyd confirms Bill Murray is back for the upcoming Ghostbusters sequel, calls the story 'heartfelt'". Ghostbusters News. Archived from the original on June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
- ^ @MI_Ghostbusers (April 21, 2023). "FIREHOUSE pix have dropped! Peck is BACK! Grooberson obviously wearing a flight suit!" (Tweet). Retrieved April 21, 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ Fidducia, Christopher (December 18, 2021). "Ghostbusters 4, 5 & 6 Could Happen With Original Team, Says Dan Aykroyd". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
- ^ Rubin, Rebecca (April 26, 2022). "'Venom 3,' 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' Sequel in the Works at Sony". Variety. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 26, 2022). "Sony Calling Up Another 'Ghostbusters' Movie — CinemaCon". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
- ^ Leston, Ryan (June 9, 2022). "Ghostbusters: Afterlife Director Announces a Sequel, Another 'Spengler Family' Movie". IGN. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
- ^ Shafer, Ellise (June 8, 2022). "'Ghostbusters' Animated Film in Development; 'Afterlife' Sequel Set in New York City". Variety. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
- ^ McClintock, Pamela (June 28, 2022). "'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' Sequel to Hit Theaters in December 2023". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 15, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- ^ Dela Paz, Maggie (October 5, 2022). "Mckenna Grace Confirms Return in Ghostbusters: Afterlife Sequel". ComingSoon.net. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
- ^ Hermanns, Grant (November 5, 2022). "Ghostbusters 4 Gets Promising Script Update From Ernie Hudson". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (December 5, 2022). "'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' Sequel Taps Gil Kenan To Direct With Previous Cast Returning". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (March 24, 2023). "Kumail Nanjiani And Patton Oswalt Among Newest Additions To Cast Of 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' Sequel". Deadline. Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- ^ "Ernie Hudson seemingly confirms original Ghostbusters cast will return in the upcoming sequel". Ghostbustersnews.com. March 24, 2023. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- ^ "What's On Screen and Filming in London? - May 2023". Film London. May 3, 2023. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
- ^ Sony Pictures [@SonyPictures] (March 20, 2023). "Back in the Firehouse. Day one! #Ghostbusters" (Tweet). Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Filming wraps on the upcoming Ghostbusters sequel". Ghostbustersnews.com. June 23, 2023. Archived from the original on June 23, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ Couch, Aaron (April 21, 2021). "Sony Films Will Move to Disney After Netflix Window Expires". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
External links
- 2024 films
- 2024 comedy films
- 2020s American films
- 2020s English-language films
- 2020s ghost films
- American ghost films
- American sequel films
- American supernatural comedy films
- Bron Studios films
- Climate change films
- Columbia Pictures films
- Films affected by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike
- Films directed by Gil Kenan
- Films produced by Jason Reitman
- Films set in New York City
- Films shot in London
- Films shot in New York City
- Films with screenplays by Jason Reitman
- Ghostbusters films
- Upcoming English-language films
- Upcoming sequel films