Original Ghostbusters Star Breaks Down Janine Melnitz’s New Role in Frozen Empire

Summary

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire brings back the original stars, including Annie Potts, who suits up as Janine to combat a new supernatural threat in New York City.
Janine’s transition from secretary to Ghostbuster is not unprecedented, as she has previously taken on this role in animated series. Fans will be delighted to see her in action in live-action.
With a larger team than ever before, including familiar faces from Ghostbusters Afterlife, Frozen Empire offers a quick turn-around and could determine the future of the franchise.

The Ghostbusters franchise did not spend much time with the original stars of the 1984 hit comedy and its sequel when it returned in 2021 with Ghostbusters Afterlife. Now Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is putting the busting team of Venkman, Aykroyd and Zeddemore back into the heart of the story, and it seems that they have a new member suiting up to make them a foursome again.

Annie Potts, who returns again in the role of Janine Melnitz in the upcoming movie, is set to don the iconic boiler suit and join her former employers in attempting to dispatch the latest spooky threat to New York City. This is something that Potts discusses in the new edition of Empire Magazine, noting how Janine is a character that was previously underestimated in her ability to have a cool head in a crisis. She said:

“It’s a desperate situation, so it’s all hands on deck. It turns out Janine is quite capable – as most women tend to be when given the chance. It came as a real surprise. We were weeks into shooting and Gil [Kenan, director] came up to me and said, ‘We think it’s time… We’re gonna have you suit up.’

I have to say I did [get a kick out of it]. Janine has served long and well, and I felt like she was finally getting her stripes, you know? She’s clearly stayed in touch with the guys [between Ghostbusters II and Afterlife/Frozen Empire], and she’s really been the keeper of the flame at the Firehouse. The Ghostbusters are kind of superheroes, so it’s very nice to finally be seen in that way, too.”

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Taps into the Animated Arm of the Franchise

ABC

The decision for Janine to take a more active role in combating the supernatural threat is one that makes perfect sense when considering the task seemingly facing the Ghostbusters this time around. After battling Gozer once again, it would seem like most other spooks couldn’t provide a greater threat. However, the Death Chill looks to be something that will push New York’s saviors to their limits.

Janine’s transition from secretary to Ghostbuster isn’t entirely without precedent. She has previously been depicted in this role in episodes of the animated series The Real Ghostbusters and Extreme Ghostbusters. However, seeing her suit up in the live-action film is something that many fans of the franchise will be delighted to see. This also taps into the idea that Frozen Empire takes a leaf out of the animated shows of the ‘80s and ‘90s, which created a host of memorable spooks that have never been given a chance to shine in live-action.

With the return of familiar faces from Afterlife, the film is set to offer a larger team than ever before as they face their new ominous threat. With a three-decade wait between Ghostbusters II and Ghostbusters Afterlife, the relatively quick turn-around of Frozen Empire has come as a welcome bonus for fans. Whether this will be the last time the team suit up is something that is hard to predict, but if their new outing warms up a chilly March box office, there is no telling where the franchise could go next.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire will hit cinemas on March 22, 2024.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

Release Date March 22, 2024

Cast Mckenna Grace , Carrie Coon , Annie Potts , Paul Rudd , Emily Alyn Lind , Bill Murray , Finn Wolfhard , Ernie Hudson , Dan Aykroyd , Patton Oswalt , William Atherton , Kumail Nanjiani