[Bison256]

I've noticed that since frozen Empire, Ghostbusters as franchise has went back into dormancy. Did frozen Empire mediocre reception kill the brand for the time being?

[mrmichaelt]

It's all relative. Sure, the next live action movie has not been announced and the two video games, Spirits Unleashed and Rise of the Ghost Lord, are effectively on cruise control with no more updates but we got 2-3 animated projects in development, a new comic starting this week, and Hasbro is poised to announce new reveals on GB Day. It's not super active, but things are being worked on and new releases are on the horizon. Far from dormant.

[Chicken, He Clucked]

Seems like we’ll see the animated series and movie before another live action movie.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Gil/Jason announce other projects before a “Ghostbusters 3” - hey, we’re back waiting for a third Ghostbusters movie!

Depending on how the animated projects are received might also feed into creative decisions. I think we’ll see it around 2028/9. Fairly confident will be another ‘soft reboot’ of sorts focusing on a new team but I expect Phoebe back at least.

[WCat2000]

It’s barely been a year since FE and other projects are in development right now. How is this dormant?

Frozen Empire did alright. Even if it did better another movie would not be made in less than a year.

[timeware]

Seems like we’ll see the animated series and movie before another live action movie.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Gil/Jason announce other projects before a “Ghostbusters 3” - hey, we’re back waiting for a third Ghostbusters movie!

Depending on how the animated projects are received might also feed into creative decisions. I think we’ll see it around 2028/9. Fairly confident will be another ‘soft reboot’ of sorts focusing on a new team but I expect Phoebe back at least.

Ghostbusters day is around the corner. If they're looking for a Phoebe goes to college plot a 27, 29 release date is going to be more likely but it would be nice to see Ghostbusters, Beetlejuice, and He-man all playing together next Summer. Whether the next Ghostbusters is Animated or live action.

[Kingpin]

It's a lull, not dormancy (as indicated by the assortment of projects mentioned above that are either due out this year, or are currently in-development). There's also new mass-market costume pieces that've been announced, new collectable merchandise, and the franchise will enjoy an extension to its stay at Universal Studios Florida, helping to keep it in the public eye.

There was a gap of three years between Afterlife and Frozen Empire, and if that pattern held for a hypothetical 5th movie, then 2027 is when we might see the next cinematic offering at the earliest.

Sure, it'd be nice to see a few more projects going to keep Ghostbusters franchise engine ticking over more clearly, but... That may be beyond the current creative and financial freedom that the franchise is currently afforded by Sony.

[deadderek]

Dormant? You must be a newer fan. We've been downright spoiled since Afterlife was announced. We might not have a new live action movie announced, but this fandom is far from dormant.

I remember back in the day when a new GB Hot Topic wallet or shirt would be the most exciting news...for months because absolutely nothing else would be going on.

[One time]

Dormant was 1989-2008.

Ever since we have been in GB heaven.

Sony is not killing the franchise and better yet by now they know exactly what works and what doesn't.

I can't wait for the future. Haslab, Ecto Goggles!! Get on it!

[timeware]

The Ecto goggles paired with the drone or remote-control trap would be awesome if they do another two in the box offering. That backing will be spendy.

[Kingpin]

I believe it's pretty safe to say they're not going to make an actual flying Drone Trap.

[edspengler]

Haslab, Ecto Goggles!! Get on it!

Afterlife version to match everything else

I believe it's pretty safe to say they're not going to make an actual flying Drone Trap.

“Anonymous individual wins lottery jackpot, Hasbro reports receiving a massive contribution to develop a flying drone trap”

If I win I won’t say anything, but there may be signs.

[prodestrian]

Dormant was 1989-2008.

I remember those years. We'd all flip out every time Dan Aykroyd would claim GB3 had been greenlit and was about to start filming (it was never true). Those articles would always include this graphic and get our hopes up for no reason:

[Rookie99]

Nah, there's an animated series and two(?) animated movies in development.

[d_osborn]

Nah, there's an animated series and two(?) animated movies in development.

...and new merch teases for the huge fan festival at the firehouse. A dreamy RGB book on the horizon, original BOSS Films miniatures up for auction, a teased mystery trailer, there's all kinds of crazy happening right now!

[Kingpin]

a teased mystery trailer

A mystery what now?

[Bison256]

I have doubts the animated series will see the light of day. They've been developing one since 2016. As more all the expensive merchandise, I don't think that does much to keep the brand visible. Normies don't buy it, only hard core fans. Look at how much of more affordable afterlife tie in merchandise ended up at Ollie's.

[Chicken, He Clucked]

I think one of the animated projects will arrive and we’ll get at least one more live action movie. That’s a lock because it keeps the franchise in the pop culture conversation and has the potential to break-out again. Frozen Empire didn’t lose money.

Beyond that, if both these future projects receive lukewarm reception, I think the franchise goes back on ice in terms of major projects, but we still get comics, game licenses, reissues. Maybe toys here and there.

Expected there’d be an RGB upscale or reissue coming up as well. Now not as certain.

[mrmichaelt]

Expected there’d be an RGB upscale or reissue coming up as well. Now not as certain.

Would be nice to see a full series set reissue with all the episodes, pilot, and Slimer! series like the Time Life set. Maybe like on September 15, 2026 as that's closest to the September 13 series premiere date.

[d_osborn]

a teased mystery trailer

A mystery what now?

I could've misunderstood what I heard.

[Chicken, He Clucked]

Wishful thinking maybe but feels like they intentionally held back on Afterlife & Frozen Empire deleted scenes for the purposes of either extended cuts or deluxe home re-releases down the line. Similar to how the original movies have seen subsequent releases fuelled by never-seen-before footage.

So feels like they’ll be coming at some point, maybe a 10th anniversary or future collected box set.

[d_osborn]

I'd love to see more dailies and workprints from all GB. The Ultimate Collection spoiled me.

[Kingpin]

Jason shot down the idea of a director's cut of Afterlife back in 2021, and I imagine Gil is on the same or similar page regarding Frozen Empire...

I can perfectly believe we'll see another deluxe Blu-ray set in the future with more never-seen-before content, but there won't be any extended cuts of the movies.

[Chicken, He Clucked]

Jason shot down the idea of a director's cut of Afterlife back in 2021, and I imagine Gil is on the same or similar page regarding Frozen Empire....

Ah, he did. Still… hopefully we eventually get to see the full popcorn scene and the Doritos kid scene… and in my headcanon the Doritos kid is later terrified by the bug-eyed ghost in a quick callback shot. And the traffic crossing ghost, which probably wasn’t even shot, is added to the montage…

[mrmichaelt]

I can perfectly believe we'll see another deluxe Blu-ray set in the future with more never-seen-before content, but there won't be any extended cuts of the movies.

I'm super curious about a workprint of GB2. If we get something like the GB1 on on the Ultimate set but for GB2, that would be divine.

I could've misunderstood what I heard.

Only teaser that's come out lately is Blitzway's 1/6th scale figures (improved version). Maybe that?
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ-hLvBzVOd/

[Chicken, He Clucked]

The fact Jason is showing up to Ghostbusters Day celebrations at the Firehouse on a 41st anniversary year should be evidence this franchise is very much not dormant and projects are in development.

[timeware]

Maybe we'll luck out and get confirmation of the conclusion to Phoebes trilogy? With Jason there the announcement of a new live action GB film (or Tv series) could make for an eventful Ghostbusters Day.

[WCat2000]

Now I’m really excited. Must be big news with Jason being there. Oh I hope they announce GB5.

[Rookie99]

Even with Jason being there, I don't see a hard confirmation or announcement of a new live action movie. The best we'll probably get is "we're working on a script" or "we now have a concrete idea where the Spengler story goes from here". Which would be nice, don't get me wrong.

[timeware]

Jason has a history of making big announcements on Ghostbusters day so it wouldn't be out of the norm. In 22 he announced the animated series was coming to Netflix, and dropped the codename Firehouse for Empire. It could still be a hit or miss but I doubt he's going to leave us hanging.

[Kingpin]

It's certainly a lot of effort for him to go to and not to tease something official, when he could as easily have recorded a special message for Ghostbusters Day 2025.