Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire brings together the original Ghostbusters and the new generation who established themselves in Ghostbusters: Afterlife. The Spengler family and Gary Gooberson find a new home in New York City, working with Winston and Ray to reestablish the Ghostbusters chasing ghosts around the city until Mayor Walter Peck threatens to shut them down. As they contend with this threat to the future of the Ghostbusters, an ancient artifact causes new mischief when the global threat trapped inside manages to escape and plunges New York City into subzero temperatures. Ghostbusters old and new will need to work together to recapture Garraka and save the city.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire brings the iconic comedy and terrifying moments of horror this franchise is known for back to the big screen with the legendary crew that first made audiences fall in love with the ghost-hunting goofballs. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire also taps into a surprising amount of heart, especially with Phoebe (played by Gossip Girl‘s Emily Alyn Lind), who once again is the key to the emotional weight of the movie, as she was in Ghostbusters: Afterlife. This is especially prevalent in Phoebe’s relationship with Melody, a dynamic that this franchise has never explored between a ghost and one of the Ghostbusters.
Screen Rant interviewed Emily Alyn Lind about her role as Melody in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. She shared insight into her character and the dynamic between Melody and Phoebe. Lind also discussed working with Kenan, the original Ghostbusters stars, and the practical effects process used to transform her into a ghost.
Melody is not the usual ghost in the Ghostbusters franchise. She is being held on Earth due to the guilt she feels for the death of her family. She, like Phoebe, feels like an outsider, which draws these two young women together.
While Ghostbusters traditionally shows ghosts in a villainous light or even as nuisances, Frozen Empire incorporates a more nuanced relationship between Phoebe and Melody. Feeling lost, they gravitate toward each other, and although they exist on different planes they connect deeply.
Lind and Grace have phenomenal chemistry in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, which is why the relationship between the characters is an emotional tether in the movie. Lind shared how easy it was for them to find that chemistry. She also broke down the importance of figuring out how their characters connected beyond physical touch.
Lind also broke down the process of finding the right way to film her as a ghost. Kenan leaned heavily into the practical effects of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, but he also experimented to find the best way to show Melody. Some of this included wire work, with the core objective being for it to feel authentic and real for not just the audience, but the actors in the moment.
The love that Kenan and Reitman have for the Ghostbusters franchise is palpable in every moment of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, with how the original Ghostbusters come into play, the exploration of family through the new generations, and the incorporation of countless Easter eggs and homages. However, they also bring their perspective to this world, with Melody being the perfect example.
Lind also discussed the weight of the Ghostbusters legacy and working with legendary comedians on Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. While the nerves were definitely there early on, Lind explained how the cast was extremely welcoming. She also shared which iconic comedians she was especially excited about working with and watching on set.
In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the Spengler family decide to leave Summerville, Oklahoma and go back to where it all started – the iconic New York City firehouse – and help 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.
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