GHOSTBUSTERS: NIGHTMARE ON 34TH STREET Live-Action Film Reportedly in the Works at Sony
Sony Pictures may already be preparing the Ghostbusters for another round of paranormal mayhem, and this time Christmas could be getting slimed.
According to a new report, another live-action Ghostbusters movie is in development at Sony Pictures with the reported title Ghostbusters: Nightmare on 34th Street. If that title sticks, it certainly points toward the franchise trading icy New York chaos for some holiday-themed supernatural trouble.
The report comes from scooper Daniel Richtman, who says Sonic the Hedgehog writer Josh Miller is currently working on the screenplay.
No story details have been revealed, so everything beyond the reported title and writer remains speculation. Still, Nightmare on 34th Street makes a Christmas setting seem pretty likely, and honestly, Ghostbusters mixed with holiday horror could be a lot of fun!
It also isn't known who will be strapping on the proton packs this time around. The obvious possibility would be the characters introduced in Ghostbusters: Afterlife and carried into Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, but their involvement hasn't been confirmed.
Afterlife introduced Egon Spengler's daughter Callie, played by Carrie Coon, along with his grandchildren Phoebe and Trevor, played by Mckenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard. They eventually formed a new Ghostbusters team alongside Gary Grooberson, played by Paul Rudd.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire expanded the crew while bringing back franchise veterans Winston Zeddemore, Ray Stantz, Peter Venkman, and Janine Melnitz, played by Ernie Hudson, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, and Annie Potts.
The question now is whether Sony wants to continue following that group or shake things up for the next movie.
Frozen Empire wasn't exactly a massive win for the franchise. The 2024 sequel received mixed-to-negative reviews and earned $202 million worldwide against a reported $100 million budget. Those numbers weren't huge for a major studio release, but Sony apparently still sees enough life in Ghostbusters to keep the live-action side moving.
The franchise is also expanding on the animation front. Earlier this year, Netflix revealed the title and logo for its upcoming animated series, Ghostbusters: Night Shift, which is scheduled to debut in 2027.
Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan co-wrote Sony's recent live-action Ghostbusters films, with Reitman directing Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Kenan directing Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.
In Night Shift, "The Ghostbusters are officially pulling an all-nighter. Ghostbusters: Night Shift, a series from Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation based on the beloved Ghostbusters franchise, will debut exclusively on Netflix in 2027. The new series marks the next chapter in the franchise’s ghoul-catching legacy, bringing supernatural comedy and paranormal action back to animation.
“This isn’t the first time the Ghostbusters universe has gone animated. The 1980s and ’90s saw The Real Ghostbusters and Extreme Ghostbusters take over the small screen. For now, you can rest assured: If there’s something strange in your neighborhood, a Ghostbuster will be on the job — even if it’s after hours."
With Night Shift on the way and Ghostbusters: Nightmare on 34th Street reportedly being written, Sony appears interested in keeping the proton packs powered up across both animation and live action.
There are still plenty of questions surrounding the reported movie, including its cast, director, release date, and whether it will continue the story of the Spengler family.
For now, though, the idea of Ghostbusters taking on a Christmas-themed paranormal nightmare sounds like it could make for a pretty entertaining trip back to the firehouse.
Hopefully we'll learn more about Ghostbusters: Nightmare on 34th Street as development moves forward.