Despite the passionate fanbase that follows Ghostbusters, the future of the franchise on the big screen remains uncertain. Following the underwhelming box office performance of 2024's Ghostubsters: Frozen Empire, Sony has yet to to officially green light another live-action movie.
That's not always indication that a franchise is on the back burner, as discussions happen behind the scenes all the time. But if said discussions are happening, franchise star Mckenna Grace has not been involved.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Grace, who plays Phoebe Spengler, the granddaughter of Egon Spengler, revealed she has not heard anything regarding a new Ghostbusters movie. But she's hopeful to return to the universe.
“I think there’s always hope. Personally, I haven’t heard anything lately. I’d be more secretive if I had,” Grace said. “I would always be honored to play Phoebe again, and whether it would be next year, I feel like I would have heard about it by now if I was. So my fingers are always crossed. As of right now, I have no clue, but I definitely think that it could be a possibility someday in the future.”
Following 2016's disappointing female-led reboot, Sony attempted to revitalize the franchise with Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Serving as a true continuation of the original movies, Ghostbusters: Afterlife follows the legacy of the original Ghostbusters, introducing Phoebe Spengler and her family. When Phoebe and her family move to a small town in Oklahoma, they discover that their new home holds a mysterious connection to her grandfather Egon Spengler and the original Ghostbusters.
Fueled by nostalgia, Ghostbusters: Afterlife was a moderate hit at the box office, grossing about $204 million on a reported budget of $75 million. The movie was met with mixed reception from critics, while general audiences viewed it much more positively. While not a runaway blockbuster, it did exceed expectations, resulting in the 2024 sequel Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.
Set years after the events of Afterlife, Phoebe and her brother Trevor relocate to New York City with their friends and family to help re-establish the Ghostbusters. Frozen Empire once again played on nostalgia, but was not met with nearly the same success, critically or commercially, as its predecessor. The film grossed about $202 million on a $100 million budget. With budget and marketing costs, many analysts believe that the movie struggled to turn a major theatrical profit, which is probably why Sony has yet to greenlight another live-action movie.
While we're not sure when the franchise will return to the big screen, Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation announced plans to develop a new animated series based on Ghostbusters. There is also an animated movie reportedly in development.