Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire: Release date, cast, plot for reboot sequel as trailer lands

The next generation of Ghostbusters will be back on the big screen in 2024 in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire as the series moves back to its spiritual home of New York City.

2021's Afterlife was a hugely successful ghostbusting reboot and introduced the iconic 80s franchise to a new generation. The film featured a talented new cast, including Handmaid's Tale star Mckenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard of Stranger Things fame. Much to the delight of fans, it also reunited the original Ghostbusters stars, including Bill Murray.

Grossing $200m (£160m) at the global box office it told the story of a single mother and her two kids who moved to a seemingly mundane town in Oklahoma, where strange things started to occur.

Read more: How Groundhog Day broke Bill Murray's relationship with Harold Ramis

Not long after they arrive begin to discover their family connection to the original Ghostbusters and must continue their ghost-trapping legacy.

Since the first Ghostbusters film in 1984 — starring Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd — the franchise has exploded into a worldwide phenomenon, grossing millions of dollars and spawning a huge range of toys, comic books, video games and merchandise.

Frozen Empire will see the new proton pack gang teaming up with the classic team to once again battle the supernatural and protect the public from spooks, spectres and marshmallow ghouls.

Here’s everything we know about the Ghostbusters sequel so far.

When is Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire in cinemas?

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire will hit cinemas on 29 March, 2024 — Easter weekend.

The film was originally slated for release at Christmas 2023, but was delayed amid the ongoing writer and actor strike.

Who is starring in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire?

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire will star Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, Celeste O’Connor, Logan Kim, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Annie Potts.

UK comedian James Acaster is also said to have a role in the film.

In a discussion with USA Today, Aykroyd shared that he wants his character Ray and Murray’s Peter to be killed in the next film and have their ghost guide the new Ghostbusters in spirit form.

"I'd like to die. I think Bill and I should be killed in the next one,” Aykroyd said. “Or, maybe we wait. Why not use the living Ghostbusters – Ernie, Billy and myself – for four, five, and six? Go until we're gone. Then there will be time for the tributes.

"Death is going to take us soon enough.”

Who is directing Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire?

Ghostbusters: Afterlife director Jason Reitman is returning to helm the sequel from a script he co-wrote with Gil Kenan,

After the success of Afterlife, the filmmaking duo signed an overall producing deal with Sony Pictures and got to straight work on the new supernatural script.

“Jason is the thing you dream about, a world-class, signature storyteller, visionary filmmaker, and dream producing partner,” said Sanford Panitch, president of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group.

“Jason and Gil as co-writing partners have a remarkable understanding of commercial quality cinema, and we are thrilled about the upcoming pipeline from these guys.”

Read more: The cartoon that kept the Ghostbusters flame alight

One major change is that after the death of his father Ivan, Reitman will be co-writing rather than directing the 2023 sequel. Creative partnerKenan is the new director.

“A few years ago, my father handed me the keys to Ecto-1," said Reitman, "and together we made Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Words will never express how grateful I am to have made a film with my father by my side.

"It’s now time to hand those keys to my creative partner and fellow Ghostbuster Gil Kenan, a brilliant director who will keep the Spengler spirit alive. I can only hope to provide him the same producorial care and support that my father showed me.”

“It’s an absolute honour to pick up the proton pack and step behind the camera for the next chapter of the Spengler family saga,” said Kenan. “I just wish I could go back to 1984 and tell the kid in the sixth row of the Mann Valley West that one day he was going to get to direct a Ghostbusters film.”

What is the plot of the Ghostbusters: Afterlife sequel?

The official synopsis explains: "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."

"I'm constantly pressuring Jason Reitman, our director, I'm always trying to figure out what the story is," star Grace revealed to ComicBook.com.

"I literally have no ounce of a clue what the story is. If I knew about a Marvel film or if I knew about Ghostbusters, I'd be sitting here and I'd be like, 'I have no clue, and it's driving me nuts.' I'm just excited to do a second one. I'm just excited to be Phoebe."

Co-writer Reitman has revealed that he already has many plans for the sequel’s storyline and has teased fans with proposed storylines and nostalgia nuggets.

During an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Reitman said that the sequel may see the comeback of creepy supernatural foe Vigo, whom we first met in the 1989 sequel, Ghostbusters II.

According to Reitman, there is a “lot of time and opportunity for Vigo The Carpathian to make his return.”

Is there a trailer for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire?

Yes. The first trailer for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire was shared by Sony Pictures on 8 November, 2023.

Watch it below.

On Halloween 2023, Ghostbusters' official social channels teased that "something strange is coming soon." They were not wrong.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is slated for release on 29 March, 2024