There are so many returning franchises to get excited about this year. However, if you’re a horror fan, the first major hit on yourP.K.E meterisGhostbusters: Frozen Empire. The fourth entry in the mainlineGhostbustersseries takes the team back to their roots in New York City. On top of that, while fans have been used to familiar ghouls like Gozer and Silmer,Frozen Empireis going to have a whole new batch of ghosts to bust.Frozen Empirehas now released a new image, shared byEmpire Magazine, which teases an upcoming villain for the movie.Director Gil Kenan also teased howThe Real Ghostbustersinfluenced the latest spooky adventure. “Wild, original and weird-as-f**k villains,” is how the filmmaker described the new ghastly threats.
If you’re a fan of 80s cartoons, then this news is going to make you even happier. The original animated series, which was based on the1984 classic,ran for seven seasons from 1986 to 1991and took the concepts set up in the live-action films to their most cartoonish absurdity. That’s while still keeping the grounded “every person” feel of the universe. This was a series thathad the iconic team go up against creatures like werechickens and the literal spirit of Halloween aka Samhain. Kenan aims to insert that same unpredictable energy into the film universe, saying, “We wanted to bring that show’s looseness and fearlessness to this movie. I think it’s going to surprise people just howbigthis film is.
The new “Sewer Dragon” that haunts theGhostbustersEmpire coveris a great example of that bold direction. Thelatest image ofFrozen Empire’s new big bad also gives fans a new frosty look at the “Death Chill” that has taken over NYC. While still not officially named, in traditional fashion, Funko has recently revealed the name of the Ghostbusters’main enemy is Garraka. With the exapnisve new scope ofFrozen Empire,it will be interesting to see how the"weird" new villains fit into the franchise’s overall lore.
‘Frozen Empire’ Looks Beyond ‘The Real Ghostbusters’ for Inspiration
However, whileThe Real Ghostbustershas influenced the evil ofFrozen Empire, the filmmakers have looked outside the franchise for inspiration for the Ghostbusters themselves.ProducerJason Reitmandiscussed the John Hughes references throughout the film, “That thing of a family in a station wagon, living in a crumbling home, the teenagers kicking back against their parents. (Finn Wolfhard’s) Trevor’s 18 now, so he’s like, ‘I’m an adult!’”
Wes Anderson was another notable influencewith Reitman stating, “We wanted thatRoyal Tenenbaumsthing of a family living on top of each other… but in the Ghostbusters’ Firehouse. We see the Firehouse way more than in any previousGhostbustersfilm. What’s it like to sleep there, do laundry there? What’s theatticlike?” That will have anyGhostbustersdie-hard thinking of the 2009 video game which let fans explore the famous Firehouse to their heart’s content.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empiretakes over theaters on August 08, 2025, and will see two generations of ghost hunters united. This includes Wolfhard,Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd,Ernie Hudson,Annie Potts, Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd, Mckenna Grace,andCeleste O’Connor. Tickets will go on sale on Thursday, January 18th. Until then, you can view the latestFrozen Empireimage below:
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
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.
