Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is reportedly inspired by The Real Ghostbusters animated series.
However, writer J. Michael Straczynski has alleged the production never got in touch with him, despite the fact he created some of its creepiest monsters.
“Trying to remember who created and/or developed some of those ‘weird-as-f*ck villains’,” he sarcastically said via Twitter. “Pretty sure he could have been of help if they had just reached out to him… just can't seem to remember the name…”
According to Empire Magazine, the upcoming Ghostbusters: Afterlife sequel is inspired by the Ghostbusters cartoon, which debuted in 1986.
The show essentially continued the adventures of the classic Ghostbusters: Dr. Peter Venkman, Dr. Egon Spengler, Dr. Ray Stantz, Winston Zeddemore, their secretary Janine Melnitz, and their mascot ghost Slimer.
However, it also introduced a whole host of interesting new ghosts and ghouls. Director Gil Kenan said that the upcoming film is influenced by the show’s “wild, original and weird-as-f**k villains.” Those villains include Drool the Dog-Faced Goblin, as well as the alternate-universe Peoplebusters.
“We wanted to bring that show’s looseness and fearlessness to this movie,” added Kenan. “I think it’s going to surprise people just how big this film is.”
Whether or not any of Straczynski’s villains make it to the big screen remains to be seen, but the writer did pen numerous episodes of the classic ‘80s cartoon. Straczynski, best known as the creator of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, claimed that the movie did not reach out, and when asked if he was unavailable at the time, he quipped: “Trying to remember… nope, not really… for sure I did some laundry at one point… yes, maybe that was the issue.”
IGN’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife review gave it 9/10 and said: “Director Jason Reitman does his father and fans proud with a funny, sweet, and spooky family movie that proudly takes on the legacy of Ghostbusters, while also introducing something exciting and new. It helps that Mckenna Grace is the kind of talent that only comes around once in a generation: charming, authentic, and the beating heart of this already heartfelt movie. Get ready to fall in love with the Ghostbusters all over again.”
