A New Ghostbusters Series Is In the Works At Netflix

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A New Ghostbusters Series Is In the Works At Netflix

Highlights

  • New Ghostbusters animated series greenlit on Netflix by Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan, capitalizing on franchise resurgence.
  • Project also includes comedian Elliott Kalan as writer and executive producer, following success of Ghostbusters: Afterlife.
  • Animated series could potentially serve as a sequel to recent films, aiming to bring franchise back to its comedic roots.

As a gamer with a deep-rooted love for ’80s pop culture, I must say that the news of a new Ghostbusters animated series coming to Netflix has me more excited than a proton pack at a ghost convention!

The Ghostbusters series is expanding with a new project set to debut on streaming platforms shortly, following the success of the latest rejuvenation phase demonstrated by the launch of “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.”

The movie “Ghostbusters” initially left a huge impression when it was released in 1984, introducing fans to concepts that would grow into a much larger franchise than anyone anticipated at the time. As the first comedic production to use substantial special effects, “Ghostbusters” surpassed all studio predictions and turned into a massive hit, earning more than nine times its budget and holding the title of highest-grossing comedy until that point at the box office. Following this success, numerous sequels, remakes, and TV shows were produced within the “Ghostbusters” universe, with varying levels of achievement.

In 2022, news broke about a prospective animated “Ghostbusters” series on Netflix, spearheaded by Jason Reitman, following the success of “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.” It seemed to be leveraging the revival of the franchise after the underperformance of the 2016 remake. Since then, no further details have been disclosed. However, a recent report from Variety reveals that the series has officially received the green light on Netflix. Reitman and Gil Kenan, co-writer of “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” and director of “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” will serve as executive producers for this project. This would be the third animated series in the franchise’s history and the first in nearly 30 years. The initial one, “The Real Ghostbusters,” enjoyed a successful seven-season run, while its successor, “Extreme Ghostbusters,” had a less impressive performance with a new cast of characters and ran for 40 episodes.

Beyond Reitman, who took it upon himself to restore the beloved “Ghostbusters” franchise, causing some controversy, and other recurring cast members, recent reports also disclose that the project will now involve Elliott Kalan, a well-known comedian. Kalan is set to contribute as both a writer and executive producer for the film. His impressive writing portfolio includes contributions to various comic book series, with notable works like the limited series “Spider-Man and the X-Men,” where he penned the popular dialogue between Spider-Man and the dinosaur villain Sauron that has since become a widely recognized meme. Furthermore, on “Mystery Science Theater 3000” and serving as the head writer on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” for a time period famously remembered for seven consecutive Emmy nominations for writing, four of which were also won.

The goodwill with fans earned from Ghostbusters: Afterlife has been a massive boon, making Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire one of the most anticipated sci-fi projects of 2024 and providing the impetus for the creation of the animated series. While there’s no telling yet what the show will explore, the previous animated shows kept up one continuity, starting off with the first movie leading into The Real Ghostbusters and then Extreme Ghostbusters picking up from where the last series stopped, albeit a few years ahead. The upcoming animated show could potentially pick up from there again or could follow the same path and instead serve as a sequel to one of the more recent films.

Although individual projects within the Ghostbusters franchise have thrived, the overall series hasn’t gelled cohesively. This issue largely stems from the different tones and approaches taken by recent projects compared to the original film’s irreverent and casual comedic style. To address this problem, an animated series might be the perfect solution, as it generally places less emphasis on audience expectations and inherently carries a lighter, more playful tone.

The Ghostbusters series can be streamed digitally through Video On Demand services, and it’s been announced that the film “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” will soon join these platforms, becoming available for streaming on Netflix.

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2024-08-14 23:24