Summary
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empiredoesn’t include Harold Ramis' Egon Spengler, but one moment is made more heartbreaking because of how it fakes out his return. The modern era ofGhostbustersmovieshas straddled the line between including the original franchise stars and replacing them with new, younger cast members.Ghostbusters: Frozen Empirecontinues that movement as Egon Spengler’s daughter, Callie (Carrie Coon), and grandchildren, Phoebe (McKenna Grace) and Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), return afterGhostbusters: Afterlife’s endingto carry on the team’s legacy. The films have particularly positioned Phoebe as Egon’s replacement in many ways.
While the franchise has loosely replaced all the main, original Ghostbusters team members, the circumstances are quite different for Egon. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Ernie Hudson all reprised their roles for both modern movies.Ghostbusters: Afterlifeincluded a CGI Harold Ramis cameoto honor the fourth original Ghostbuster. That decision opened the door forGhostbusters: Frozen Empireto include Egon’s ghost again. There is even one moment in the movie where it seems like it is going to happen before becoming a heartbreaking fake-out.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Ending Explained
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire sees the Ghostbusters up against a chilling new villain. We discuss the film’s biggest moments & what’s next for the team.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Briefly Referenced Egon Spengler’s Afterlife Role
Phoebe’s First Interaction With Egon Is Recreated
The moment whereI thoughtGhostbusters: Frozen Empirewas about to include another Egon cameo is when Phoebe goes to the parkafter being left off theGhostbusters teamfor a mission. She sits down at a table and empties her backpack to set up a chess game. Phoebe is surprised when the chess pieces begin to move. It is during the early parts of the sequence that it seems as thoughGhostbusters: Frozen Empireis on the verge of showing Egon once more, but the film instead introduces Melody (Emily Alyn Lind), which seems even to disappoint Phoebe.
This scene acts as an Egon cameo fake-out because this was a key part of his role inGhostbusters: Afterlife. Phoebe’s first encounter with her grandfather was when his ghost would play her in chess. She did not know then that this was Egon’s ghost, but it still helped create a bond between them over the game. It appears thatPhoebe goes to the park inGhostbusters: Frozen Empireto try to play chess with her grandfatheronce again. The ultimate reveal that its Melody instead of Egon catches her and us off-guard then.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Completely Ignores The 2 Biggest Questions About The Spengler Family
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire picks up where Afterlife left off. However, the movie fails to answer major questions regarding the Spengler family.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’s Egon Fake-Out Is A Heartbreaking Reminder Of Harold Ramis' Passing
Harold Ramis Died 10 Years Before Frozen Empire
Melody plays chess with Phoebe instead of Egon because Melody is more important to the story andGhostbusters: Frozen Empire’s villain, Garraka. However, the scene still would have worked as a perfect place for Phoebe and her grandfather to interact one more time, especially when she is in a low spot. The heartbreaking reality, though, is that pulling off the Egon cameo is much trickier, consideringHarold Ramis died in 2014. It would have required using CGI to bring him back again.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife was dedicated to Harold Ramis
Harold Ramis' influence over theGhostbustersfranchise and performances as Egon played a significant part in the success of the original movies. It is great thatthe new movies have managed to bring back the other original Ghostbusters, Sigourney Weaver, William Atherton, and Annie Potts. But with many of them stepping into more prominent roles inGhostbusters: Frozen Empire, the movie teasing audiences with a potential presence from Egon and then not delivering on it just reminds viewers of Ramis' passing.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Made The Right Move Not Using CGI Harold Ramis Again
It Wouldn’t Have Worked Again
As great as it could have been forGhostbusters: Frozen Empireto include another Egon cameo, the movie ultimately made the right decision by leaving him out. Bringing him back in such a small capacity would feel more unnecessary, unnerving, and like nostalgia bait. Part of the reason whyAfterlife’s Egon cameo worked is because he was a vital part of the movie’s emotional core and resolution. He wasn’t just a cameo for the sake of it. But that may have been what would have happened if he was the one to play chess with Phoebe in the park.
It would be difficult forGhostbusters: Frozen Empireto have a really meaningful Egon return at this point.Using CGI to keep Harold Ramis' appearance limits the possibilities of Egon’s role, and decisions like using AI to recreate his voice would have been a mistake. The franchise wouldn’t recast Egon either to have him in a few scenes. It was better forGhostbusters: Frozen Empireto leave out a CGI Egon Spengler cameo and leaveAfterlifeas the last time Harold Ramis' character is featured in that capacity.
