Sony Reportedly Developing ‘Ghostbusters: Nightmare on 34th Street’, and It Could Bring Holiday Horror to the Franchise

The ‘Ghostbusters’ franchise has been quiet on the live-action front for a while. Since ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ arrived in 2024, Sony hasn’t greenlit another live-action installment, though director Gil Kenan and actress Annie Potts have both teased that more was on the way.

The series has plenty of history to build on. Four live-action films have been made within the same continuity, not counting the 2016 female-led reboot, and the franchise is currently expanding into animation as well.

Now a new live-action entry may finally be taking shape. According to scooper Daniel Richtman, Sony is developing a film titled ‘Ghostbusters: Nightmare on 34th Street’, with Josh Miller reportedly writing the screenplay.

The reported title has fans immediately speculating. It mashes up ‘Miracle on 34th Street’, the 1947 Christmas classic set around Macy’s in New York, with ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’. That combination points to a holiday-themed ‘Ghostbusters’ story back in Manhattan.

Dread Central even wondered whether the title could tie into ‘The Real Ghostbusters’ animated series, though it couldn’t find an episode with that name, and neither a Christmas setting nor a cartoon connection has been confirmed.

A new live-action ‘Ghostbusters’ film is reportedly in the works. • Titled ‘GHOSTBUSTERS: NIGHTMARE ON 34TH STREET’ • Written by Josh Miller (‘Sonic’ Movies) (Via: @DanielRPK) https://t.co/frU8Xqk9Xi

— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) October 6, 2026

For now, there’s no plot, no director, and no confirmed cast. It’s also unclear whether the film will follow the main continuity or stand on its own, or which franchise stars, if any, might return.

Richtman indicated that he assumes the screenwriter is the same Josh Miller who has worked on the ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ films, though that hasn’t been officially confirmed. Miller writes alongside his partner Pat Casey, and the duo penned all 3 ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ movies, with a fourth arriving in March.

It’ll send a chill down your spine. Watch the teaser trailer for #Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, coming soon exclusively to movie theaters. https://t.co/wJuAVwcJNh

— Ghostbusters (@Ghostbusters) November 8, 2023

The pair also wrote ‘Violent Night’, in which David Harbour’s Santa Claus takes on mercenaries on Christmas Eve. Cosmic Book News noted that hiring a ‘Violent Night’ writer for a film called ‘Nightmare on 34th Street’ would be a natural fit.

Richtman only named Miller, so it remains unknown whether Casey is also involved. As several outlets have stressed, the project should be treated as a rumor until Sony confirms it.

While fans wait for official word, the franchise has other projects coming. Netflix will debut ‘Ghostbusters: Night Shift’ next year, an animated series set in the 1990s, in between the events of the original 2 films and the newer movies.

The series follows a rising new team of Ghostbusters and is designed to expand the universe of the live-action films. Executive producers include Jason Reitman, Gil Kenan and Dan Aykroyd, alongside Ben Hibon, Elliott Kalan and Amie Karp.

Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation are also developing an animated feature called ‘Ecto’, which unfolds from a ghost’s perspective. Kris Pearn, director of ‘The Willoughbys’, was previously reported as attached to direct.

The rumor has sparked plenty of discussion online. Some fans are excited by the idea of a holiday horror take on the franchise, while others remain indifferent after the direction of the recent sequels.

Still, a Christmas-set adventure could give the ‘Ghostbusters’ a fresh seasonal identity beyond their usual Halloween association. If Sony moves forward, it could become one of the franchise’s most distinctive entries yet.

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