GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE Director Says Original Cast Are "Actual Characters" That Are "Fully Fleshed Out"

One of the most exciting things about this next film in the Ghostbusters franchise, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, is that the original cast returns and their roles will be more than just small cameos. According to director Gil Kenan, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Ernie Hudson will be “actual characters” this time that feel “more fully fleshed out.”

The director shared with SFX magazine: "There comes a point in every story where the task of survival, of defeating the thing that you’re up against, is going to require you to act.”

He went on to talk about the original cast’s invovement in the story, saying: "That’s the moment that’s really thrilling for me as a Ghostbusters fan: watching their involvement in the story redefine itself, grow and become more fully fleshed out in a way that speaks to the promise of the original Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters 2, and what was glimpsed in the fields outside of Summerville in Afterlife. There’s a direct line from there into who they are now and how they act here in our new story."

Kenan went on to say that they would be treated as "actual characters. We had a duty to make those legendary characters integral to this story."

It’s great to hear that these characters will finally be back in full force! While it was fun to see them in Afterlife, I would have loved to see more of them, and now fans will get that experience in Frozen Empire, which is really cool!

In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, “the Spengler family returns to where it all started – the iconic New York City firehouse – to team up with 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 an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age.”

Ghostbusters: Afterlife director and co-writer Jason Reitman serves as writer and executive producer on the new film. The movie also stars Patton Oswalt, Kumail Nanjiani, comedian James Acaster, and Emily Alyn Lind have joined the cast! They join returning cast members Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, and Mckenna Grace. Annie Potts is also back as Janine Melnitz.