Dan Akroyd made some highly perceptive comments about the future ofGhostbustersas a franchise andGhostbusters 6. Akroyd is a legendary comedy actor with over 100 credits to his name stretching back to 1974. However, while Akroyd’s career took off in 1984 thanks to the success and popularity ofGhostbusters, the series has moved on decades later. Or at least it’s trying to move on.
However, each of theGhostbusterssequels that have been released since 2016 have featured members of the original team in supporting or cameo roles. For the 2016 reboot, this was awkward, as the actors played different characters with no real mention of their earlier connection. But in bothGhostbusters: Afterlife, andGhostbusters: Frozen Empire, the actors returned to play pivotal, but supporting roles. However,Akroyd has highlighted that theGhostbustersfranchisereally needs totake its next steps forward without the original Ghostbusters, especially after the disappointing performance ofFrozen Empire.
Dan Aykroyd Is Right: Ghostbusters Needs To Move On From The Original Characters
It’s Time For Ghostbusters To Move On
The issue is,nostalgia only takes a movie so far. And once iconic characters return, all the excitement that was built up in the interceding time evaporates. This is clear to see when looking at the diminishing returns from the movies' box office numbers (viaThe Numbers). While 2016’sGhostbusterssuffered from campaigns, backlash and protests ahead of its release, that film still managed to take home $25 million more than either of the sequel films.
I don’t see that coming. I don’t see where they would need us to carry it on. They’ve got a whole new cast, and they’ve got whole new ideas. I think probably they’re going to move on to advancing it beyond the originals, which they should. - Dan Akroyd
And despite a more enthusiastic response to the later sequels, the movies appear to be stuck in the past.Ghostbusters: Afterlifecleverly tied the original films in with the sequels, butFrozen Empirefelt like it was clinging on to the past. Togive the new team a chance to properly shine, they need to take center stage, and avoid splitting the spotlight with the original team who have well and truly earned their retirement.
Ghostbusters Has Struggled To Replace The Original Team, But Could Still Do It
The Replacement Teams Haven’t Worked Out Just Yet
The2016Ghostbustersrebootmade an effort to replace the original team with an all-female cast, which was not inherently a negative, but there was a considerable backlash to this that ensured the film could not succeed. The cast were funny, and the movie had a decent premise, but it failed to gain traction. However, when the series tried to change course and revive the original storyline decades later, itfailed to let go of the original cast.
Afterlifesees the daughter and grandchildren of Egon Spengler take up the mantle as they come face to face with ghosts. The movie does a great job at connecting these two eras together, but it didn’t fully embrace the transition to the new team. As a result,Frozen Empireends up using the original team even more, and it feels like Paul Rudd and the rest of the new crew have not been granted the trust to take the series forward. However,Ghostbusters 6still has a shot at moving the story forward and following the new team.
Ghostbusters 6 Should Still Happen After Frozen Empire
The New Team Is Ready To Step Up
DespiteFrozen Empire’sstruggles at the box office, the franchise is one of the most beloved IPs ever made, and there is so much more potential to explore these stories. Of course, they can choose tokeep the updated cast with the Spengler’s. However, it’s time to get creative and fresh with the material. After the original films were released, several animated spin-offs featured brand-new stories, ghosts, and locations, while the latest movies are still set within New York, with a handful of ghosts to fight against.
All 15 Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Easter Eggs & References
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire features a bevy of Easter eggs including callbacks to the original movies, The Real Ghostbusters, and horror classics.
A new team has been established, so it’s possible for Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd, Mckenna Grace, and Finn Wolfhard to set off on new adventures without being so closely tied up with the past. Instead, they could have the kids go to college, and stumble into ghost infestations, or the Ghostbusters get more famous, and begin to tackle jobs across the US. There is so much potential for the franchise, but in five films, it seems like only the surface has been scratched. It’s time forGhostbusters 6to step up and bring something new to the table.
Ghostbusters 6
Ghostbusters 6 is the unannounced sequel to 2024’s Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Though unconfirmed, plans are underway as writer-director Gil Kenan expressed interest in continuing the story of Phoebe Spangler.
