Janine Melnitz Suits Up For 'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire'

In 1984's 'Ghostbusters', the famous jump suits were strictly reserved for Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, Egon Spengler, and Winston Zeddemore. In 'Ghostbusters II', Rick Moranis' character Louis Tully was given the honour of wearing the iconic uniform. In the upcoming sequel, Janine Melnitz, the Ghostbusters' ever-faithful receptionist, will finally be promoted to a fully-fledged paranormal exterminator.

Speaking about the upcoming movie 'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' exclusively for Empire, Annie Potts 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." 'Frozen Empire' is set to premiere on March 22 and serves as the direct sequel to the 2021 hit 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife'.

Annie, who also appeared in 'Afterlife' said, "It came as a real surprise." She said the project was weeks into shooting when director Gil Kenan said to her, "We think it's time... We're gonna have you suit up."

Famous for her catchphrase, "we got one," Annie admitted she got a kick out of wearing the suit. Who wouldn't? Annie told Empire as part of the world's first interview on the Ghostbusters' next mission, "Janine has served long and well, and I felt like she was finally getting her stripes." Annie added, "The Ghostbusters are kind of superheroes, so it's very nice to finally be seen in that way, too."

Annie can be seen besides the original boys in grey on the cover of one of two collectible 'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' issues that are available now. An alternative cover shows the new generation cast, Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Mckenna Grace, and Finn Wolfhard.

Empire also spoke to Gil Kenan, Jason Reitman, and the Ghostbusters themselves, including Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Paul Rudd, Annie Potts, Finn Wolfhard, and more. Plus the return of William Atherton, reprising his role as Walter Peck, a character not seen since the first movie.

The movie's already impressive cast will be joined by new members like Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, James Acaster, and Emily Alyn Lind. Newcomer Kumail recently revealed that 'Frozen Empire' draws inspiration from 'The Real Ghostbusters', the 1980s animated series beloved by fans of the original movies. On X (formerly Twitter), Kumail expressed his enthusiasm for the series and its influence on the film, hinting at a nostalgic yet fresh take on the Ghostbusters universe.

The plot of 'Frozen Empire' revolves around the Spengler family returning to the iconic New York City firehouse. This sets the stage for an unprecedented alliance between the new and original Ghostbusters, spurred by the discovery of an ancient artefact. This artefact unleashes the Death Chill, a formidable threat that endangers not just New York City but the entire world.