Dan Aykroyd, best known for his role as Ray Stanz in the Ghostbusters franchise, has confirmed that a new Ghostbusters movie is in development. The 73-year-old actor, who has been part of the series since the original 1984 film through to the 2024 release Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, emphasized that the franchise will continue with upcoming projects.
Upcoming Ghostbusters Film Planned with Creative Team
During a recent appearance on the Talking Strange podcast, Aykroyd shared that there will definitely be another Ghostbusters feature, although the direction of the new installment is still being decided. He explained,
“We’ll see what we do as far as the next Ghostbusters feature, and there will be one. It’s just what avenue we’re going to take.”
He hinted at the possibility of incorporating contemporary themes into the storyline.
“I think that, given creative people in the world we’re living in today, how can you not factor in some of what we’re looking at in terms of the human species’ execrable behavior? That may be looked at. Maybe it manifests itself in some kind of an evil formation,”
Aykroyd added.
The actor revealed that Jason Reitman, director of the more recent Ghostbusters entry Ghostbusters: Afterlife and producer of Frozen Empire, is currently collaborating with the creative teams at Ghost Corps in Los Angeles.
“Not sure, you know, Jason is working with the creative crew there at Ghost Corps out there in Los Angeles. And I’ll be very interested to see what emerges,”
Aykroyd commented.
New Animated Series Also in Development
In addition to plans for a new live-action film, Aykroyd mentioned that a fresh animated Ghostbusters television show is underway. He described the project enthusiastically, stating,
“We are doing a really neat animated Ghostbusters. It’ll be coming out quite soon. The characters and the whole take and the look of Manhattan is really exciting. So, I think maybe there’s an opportunity there for those writers to address some of the issues that we need to heal and move on with our lives.”
Background on the Ghostbusters Franchise
The Ghostbusters saga follows a group of paranormal researchers who, after losing their university positions in New York City, form a ghost-catching business to battle supernatural threats. Dan Aykroyd’s character, Ray Stanz, joins Dr. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis), and Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) as the core team fighting to protect the city.
The latest film, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, released in 2024, featured the Spengler family joining the original Ghostbusters to confront an ancient force threatening New York with a supernatural ice age. The ensemble cast included Mckenna Grace, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, and Paul Rudd alongside the veteran Ghostbusters.
Continuing the Legacy of Ghostbusters
With Dan Aykroyd’s reassurance that the Ghostbusters universe will expand through new movies and animated shows, fans can anticipate future stories blending supernatural adventure with relevant social themes. As Jason Reitman and the creative team at Ghost Corps develop these projects, the franchise aims to remain a significant part of popular culture while addressing modern-day challenges through its unique lens.
