Are the original Ghostbusters in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire? Explained

Modified Jul 31, 2024 11:17 GMT

The original Ghostbusters in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (Image via Netflix)

On Monday, July 22, 2024, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire finally started streaming on Netflix, and took the audiences back into the ghost-hunting business. The movie is a sequel to Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which was released back in 2021. Before launching on Netflix, the movie had its official release in theatres on March 22, 2024, and became a commercial success, grossing approximately $201.8 million at the box office. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is directed by Gil Kenan, who wrote it along with Jason Reitman, the director of the prequel.

Gary, Callie, Trevor, and Phoebe, the classic Ghostbusters family are back again in this film. This time, they are based in New York City, the birthplace of Ghostbusters. They have come to stop an ancient spirit, Garraka, that has been released into the world with a strange artifact. It is about to release a chilling dead army, and if not stopped on time, it will bring the Ice Age back to the world.

The original masters make a return to help this time. Peter, Ray, Winston, and Janine reprise their roles in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, suiting up and banging proton bolsters to save the world one more time.

Their nostalgic return takes the audience back into the 1980s New York City and reminds them of the original Ghostbusters (1984) film.

The original Ghostbusters are back in the business in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

1) Bill Murray as Dr. Peter Venkman

Murray reprises his role as Dr. Venkman, the leader of the original Ghostbusters team that he co-founded with Ray and Egon. Peter still has his charming wit, and his constant flow of saucy dialogue adds more humor to the story. Peter has a skill of understanding the psychology of the spirits, that makes him an important addition to the team. In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Peter uses his scientific abilities to uncover that Nadeem (Kumail Nanijani) has pyrokinetic powers.

Murray is known for his comedy films such as Groundhog Day (1993), What About Bob? (1991), Caddyshack (1980), and Meatballs (1979). He was also a part of Ghostbusters II (1989).

2) Dan Aykroyd as Dr. Raymond "Ray" Stantz

Aykroyd reprises his role in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire as the enthusiastic and loving scientist, Ray Stanz. He is an expert on paranormal history which gives him knowledge regarding how to capture the ancient deity Garraka, back into the artifact.

However, Ray has taken partial retirement from ghostbusting and currently runs a bookstore. Podcast finds Ray to be his mentor, and spends time in his bookstore during the summer.

Aykroyd is known for his roles in comedies such as Spies Like Us (1985), The Blues Brothers (1980), and its sequel Blues Brothers 2000 (1998). He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, for his role as Bollie Werthan in Driving Miss Daisy (1989).

3) Ernie Hudson as Dr. Winston Zeddemore

Dr. Winston Zeddemore (Image via Netflix)

Hudson is back again in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire with the role of Winston, who became the fourth Ghostbuster after responding to a job advertisement. Despite not being a scientist himself, he shared a close relationship with the original three and together they saved the world.

Winston, at present, is a more practical man, who serves as a financier behind the Ghostbusters. He is working towards a Paranormal Research Center focused on developing new ghostbusting gadgets and technology. The innovations serve as an important addition in the final battle against Garraka.

Hudson is known for his appearances in The Basketball Diaries (1995) and The Ron Clark Story (2006).

4) Annie Potts as Janine Melnitz

Potts reprises her role as Janine, the sassy receptionist of the Ghostbusters firehouse, in the original film. She was the secretary before finally becoming one of the Ghostbusters. In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, she helps the Ghostbusters team to get connected with Zeddemore Industries' Paranormal Research Center. This time she finally suits up in the final fight against the icy army of the dead.

Potts received a Golden Globe nomination for her role in Corvette Summer (1978). She has appeared in numerous movies and television series and is widely popular for her role as Meemaw in The Big Bang Theory's prequel Young Sheldon (2017-2024).

The presence of Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis), one of the original trio members of the Ghostbusters, leaves an absence. In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire we see the Spengler family carrying on his legacy as they keep on busting ghosts and saving the world.

Edited by Udisha