Joining the cast this time are the likes of Patton Oswalt as Dr. Hubert Wartzki, Kumail Nanjiani as Nadeem Razmaadi – and, most importantly to anyone who instinctively knows the answer to the question “Poppadoms or bread?”, British comedian and podcasting favourite James Acaster. The Off Menu co-host is playing Lars Pinfield, a man responsible for some of the fresh tech being funded by Ernie Hudson’s Winston – and he’s set to fit firmly into the Ghostbusters universe. “James is not playing a Spengler, but he really falls in line with the Egon Spengler ‘type’,” laughs Reitman.
It’s a whole hive of ectoplasmic activity, with multiple generations coming together to battle the paranormal. For instance, expect a delightful team-up between Dan Aykroyd’s Ray Stantz and Logan Kim’s young podcaster from Afterlife, simply known as Podcast. “Ray and Podcast are buddies – Ray’s a mentor to him,” says Aykroyd. “He’s renting Ray’s basement to shoot an Instagram series called ‘Repossessed’, where people bring in objects they think are haunted.” And Mckenna Grace’s science-mad Phoebe Spengler is living her (and her grandfather’s) dream. “Phoebe’s in her element,” says Grace. “She’s now ghostbusting on a totally different scale to what she was doing in Oklahoma.” Maybe it’s the ghosts who should be scared this time.
Empire’s world-exclusive Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire issue features two collectible covers, featuring an original photoshoot with both generations of the cast, the Ecto-1 and a smattering of spooks. Inside, you’ll find the world’s first interviews on the Ghostbusters’ most dangerous mission yet – speaking to Gil Kenan, Jason Reitman, and the Ghostbusters themselves, including Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Paul Rudd, Annie Potts, Finn Wolfhard, and more. Plus: never-before-seen images from the film, and Jason Reitman on the genius of Bill Murray. On sale Thursday 18 January. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire comes to UK cinemas from 22 March.