Ghostbusters' Next Live-Action Movie Gets a Big Update Ahead of Netflix Animated Series

Published Oct 6, 2026, 12:30 AM EDT Jeremy has been a freelance writer and editor since 2014, having contributed to a variety of entertainment websites. He is a self-professed expert on all things pop culture and Bob Saget's biggest fan. Dislikes include onions, heights, and talking about himself in the third person. The Ghostbusters movie series has been on ice since the release of Frozen Empire , as the live-action future of the franchise remains unclear. While animated projects are in the works, a new report claims that Sony is working on a new live-action film, and it sounds like this one will have a holiday theme. According to known movie scooper Daniel Ritchtman, Sony is developing a live-action Ghostbusters movie. It's reportedly called Ghostbusters: Nightmare on 34th Street , suggesting it will be set during the Christmas holiday season. Josh Miller ( Sonic the Hedgehog , Violent Night ) is said to be writing the screenplay. A director wasn't named, and it's unclear which, if any, franchise stars from the previous films will be featured. The movie has not been formally announced by Sony at this time. Animated Ghostbusters Content Is Also Coming Image via Netflix The new report comes ahead of two separate animated projects that are in the works. Next year, Netflix will debut Ghostbusters: Night Shift , an animated series that's set in between the events of the original two films and the newer movies. It is intended to further expand the universe of the live-action movies, following a rising new team of Ghostbusters in action during the 1990s . Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Frozen Empire filmmakers Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan are serving as executive producers on the project. It has also been reported that an animated feature film is in development . While its title is not yet known, it's reportedly being directed by Kris Pearn ( The Willoughbys ) with Sam Jarvis writing the script. It's rumored that the film will be told from the perspective of a ghost, and it's in development under the working title of Ecto . Not much else is currently known about this project. Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan Revived the Original Timeline Image via Sony After Paul Feig's live-action reboot in 2016 flopped , the franchise went back to the continuity of the original two movies. Jason Reitman, son of original Ghostbusters helmer Ivan Reitman, directed 2021's Ghostbusters: Afterlife . The legacy sequel primarily followed a new team of Ghostbusters, including some members of Egon Spengler's family. Franchise stars like Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Annie Potts also returned to reprise their roles. Gil Kenan, who co-wrote Afterlife with Jason Reitman, took over as director for 2024's Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire . Along with the legacy actors, the film brought back Afterlife 's new cast: Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd, Mckenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Logan Kim, and Celeste O'Connor. The sequel brought the story back to New York, where the Ghostbusters face a supernatural entity with the ability to bring about a second Ice Age. As of now, the only upcoming Ghostbusters project with a release window is Ghostbusters: Night Shift , which is expected to debut on Netflix in 2027. First Film Ghostbusters First TV Show The Real Ghostbusters Cast Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, Finn Wolfhard, Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon Created by Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis Latest Film Ghostbusters: Afterlife