Now that the SAG-AFTRA strike is over, actors are finally able to speak openly about their upcoming films again and some haven’t taken long to do so. One such actor is Kumail Nanjiani who expressed his excitement over joining the Ghostbusters franchise after yesterday’s trailer for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, even revealing the filmmakers took inspiration from the classic animated series The Real Ghostbusters.
Nanjiani’s exact role in the film is unknown as of now, but he will be a new member of the Ghostbusters after their return to New York City and the iconic firehouse as a new supernatural entity known as the Death Chill threatens the city.
Speaking on X (formerly Twitter), Nanjiani said “Ghostbusters was my first favorite movie. I remember the first time I watched it. It felt like someone had made a movie just for me.” In a continuing tweet, he even revealed The Real Ghostbusters, the ’80s animated series which spun out of the classic film, was a “point of reference” for director Gil Kenan and Jason Reitman, the son of original Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman and director of Ghostbusters: Afterlife.
SEE ALSO: The Ghostbusters return in first teaser trailer for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
“Also I am a huge fan of The Real Ghostbusters (the animated series) and that show was a point of reference for this movie. The filmmakers wanted to make a long episode of the animated series. So if you love that show as I do, be excited,” Nanjiani said.
Also I am a huge fan of The Real Ghostbusters (the animated series) and that show was a point of reference for this movie. The filmmakers wanted to make a long episode of the animated series. So if you love that show as I do, be excited.
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) November 9, 2023
The Real Ghostbusters ran for 7 seasons from 1986 – 1991. The series followed the Ghostbusters as they trapped a wide variety of ghosts and entities, from the Boogeyman to the Sandman, on a weekly basis. Its popularity is one reason why Ghostbusters has remained so beloved for nearly 40 years as it was the entry point for many fans before they saw either of the feature films. It even spawned the sequel series Extreme Ghostbusters where Egon taught a new generation how to catch ghosts and later had the original Ghostbusters return to team-up with the Extreme team against a powerful threat.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire finds the Spengler family returning 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
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire sees McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd, Celeste O’Connor and Logan Kim reprise their Ghostbusters: Afterlife roles alongside franchise veterans Ernie Hudson, Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd with franchise newcomers Kumail Nanjiani and Patton Oswalt.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is directed by Gil Kenan and written by Kenan and Ghostbusters: Afterlife director Jason Reitman.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire will be released March 29th, 2024.
Ricky Church – Follow me on Twitter for more movie news and nerd talk
