We were joined on the Popternative show by Mckenna Grace who returns as Phoebe Spengler in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the sequel to 2021’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which was set 32 years after the events of Ghostbusters II. Afterlife followed single mom Callie Spengler (Carrie Coon) and her two kids (Finn Wolfhard and Mckenna Grace) in a small town as they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.
Frozen Empire finds the Spenglers, including Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd), in New York City back at the original firehouse Ghostbusters headquarters. The film premiered in theaters on March 22nd and is now available to rent or purchase on VOD.
“Frozen Empire was fun because we kind of delved a little bit deeper into our new world with a lot of new characters, new threats and ghosts, but it was still cool to have the original [cast] there to guide us, bring us back to its roots and to bring the Ghostbusters back to New York,” Mckenna says on returning for the sequel. Original Ghostbusters cast Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Bill Murray, Annie Potts, and William Atherton return in Frozen Empire.
On getting to play Phoebe Spengler for a second time, Mckenna says, “It feels like a dream. This franchise has been such a big part of my life growing up and it’s changed my life now that I actually get to be a part of it. I’m just like ‘I can’t believe they like me,’ and it makes me so happy that they want me back.”
“It’s still cool to create our own things within this very known and beloved franchise,” she also notes. Watch the full conversation below.