Interview: Ghostbusters Star Mckenna Grace Talks Frozen Empire, Working With Legends

ComingSoon Editor-in-Chief Tyler Treese spoke to Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire star Mckenna Grace about the latest entry in the beloved series. Grace discussed the new and old characters of the franchise, plus more. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is now available to buy or rent now digitally.

“In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the Spengler family returns to where it all started – the iconic New York City firehouse – to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who’ve developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level,” says the synopsis. “But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an army of ghosts that casts a death chill upon the city, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age.”

This has to be so exciting because we’re two films into this Ghostbusters reboot and continuation, and Phoebe’s been the breakout character. Fans have embraced her. What has really stood out about the reception? I imagine it’s like a pinch-me moment where you’re contributing and building upon the legacy of such a storied franchise.

It’s incredible. It’s nothing I could have ever hoped or imagined. Crazy background, by the way. Love it. It’s insane to me to be a part of something that I’ve been such a fan of my entire life. And to be able to build upon that franchise for a newer generation and for the old generation of Ghostbusters fans, I might not be like old, but I am like, I am a Ghostbusters fan. Like I’ve been a Ghostbusters fan my entire life. It’s a dream come true. It feels surreal. It doesn’t feel real. I can’t believe that I’m a Ghostbuster!

The family dynamic really is special. At my theater — and I never see this — but when I saw Frozen Empire, everybody was dressed up. There were whole families dressed up. It’s such a cool experience seeing the bond between families like that. I assume that just makes everything all the more special.

Oh, it’s incredible. It’s probably like my favorite part about being a part of this franchise is the fan base is getting to be, because I’m such a part of the fan base, so it, it’s cool to see the reception to Phoebe that people have welcomed me and her with open arms. ’cause you know, they didn’t have to, they could have just been like, “I hate Phoebe, and I hate Mckenna Grace.” You know? I don’t know. I always get scared. The fans have been so, so lovely to me, and I love getting to see that. I love getting to see the families and kids dressed as Ghostbusters and as Phoebe. I’ve seen so many cosplays and edits, and it’s my favorite thing.

It has to be a bit bizarre seeing kids trick or treat as you. Isn’t that crazy?

It’s very weird. I can’t imagine that that actually has happened before. Like, that’s weird. I saw a TikTok the other day of a tattoo of me as Phoebe, my face, on somebody’s leg. I was like, this cannot be real. There’s no way. I’m so sorry that you decided to get my face. I’m so sorry you have that now. Like me. It’s so crazy to me. I can’t believe that exists. I don’t know, that’s crazy to me. It’s very surreal.

A few years passed between Afterlife and Frozen Empire. So what was most interesting about really getting to develop Phoebe past the young girl that we saw in Afterlife and see how she is now becoming almost an adult?

Well, it’s the same as me because that is pretty much what’s going on in my life. I had just turned 13 about like a month before we shot Afterlife, and then I turned 17 the day after we stopped shooting Frozen Empire. So it’s the exact timeframe of my life. It’s been fun to be able to portray Phoebe at a different time in my life and hers, because it kind of correlates and lines up always. I’m growing with her, so it’s fun to incorporate because I get her, I feel her, you know, I’m going through the same thing. So I get to incorporate lots of my life into her.

One of the highlights of the film is Phoebe’s bond with Melody. How was it finding your chemistry and back and forth with Emily because you both play off each other really well?

Yeah, I think that’s just kinda like how we play off of each other. Just like in the scenes whenever we’re playing Phoebe and Melody, it’s fun. We just quip and go back and forth. We improvise a lot. It’s fun. I don’t know, Emily and I get along. It’s cool getting to play those characters and bring their friendship to life.

You have some really sweet moments with Paul Rudd. He’s trying to gain acceptance in this stepdad role and a lot of heart of the film comes from that. How is it kind of establishing that rapport with him? Especially because you guys are kind of arguing a bit in the movie as your character gets sidelined, but it’s all a happy ending.

Yeah, it’s lovely getting to see that relationship between Gary and Phoebe. I think that it’s sweet that he is trying to step up and be there for Phoebe. I love it. I think that it’s really nice. I love their relationship. I think it’s probably one of my favorite parts of the film. I love shooting it. I love getting to work with Paul. He’s a fantastic on-screen father and an amazing off-screen friend. So it’s always lovely getting to work with him. it’s an honor and it’s cool getting to portray their relationship and bond, especially this go around. It was very fun to be able to kind of have him step into a bit more of a parental figure in her life.

Finn Wolfhard is just hilarious in this film. He really gets to show his comedy chops. He’s getting slimed all the time. He is a very fun, goofy big brother. How was it establishing the sibling dynamic, especially with them a little bit older than in the first film?

It was fun. I feel it’s fun. I feel like our entire relationship in these films is just he says something, and I’m like, “You’re so stupid.” I feel like that’s just our entire [thing]. He just says something, and I just like look at him like, “You’re so… Why are you talking?” It makes me laugh. I’d love to see more of Phoebe and Trevor. I love working with Finn. We have a great time and a great rapport as those characters. So I’d love to see that relationship a bit more. But it’s always really fun. I love working with Finn. I mean, he’s so stupid. Like they’re just always doing bits on set. He’s so talented, of course, but they’re just hilarious, and I’m just always like, “Oh God.” They’re just always doing a bit. It’s funny.

The legends return in Frozen Empire. We see Ernie Hudson, Bill Murray, and Dan Aykroyd. It is great to see them, and they have larger roles this time around. How was it getting to work with them, getting to learn from them, and, most importantly, getting that co-sign from them as well that they want to be a part of this and they’re proud of this film as well?

It’s just as surreal as being a Ghostbuster. It’s weird to be able to not just meet and work alongside but also bust ghosts alongside the original guys. It’s people that I’ve grown up watching and been a fan of my entire life. So it’s weird. It’s cool that they like the franchise still and like the films that we’re making, that’s like the biggest honor in my heart that they still wanna be a part of it and still like what we’re doing and creating. It’s an incredible feeling. It’s weird and surreal. I don’t even know how to describe it. It’s a fever dream.

I saw that you voiced Skye in Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie, and it’s embarrassing, but that movie made me cry. I’m a really big dog lover. You have such a great arc in that movie. Were you surprised at how much heart the Paw Patrol movie had?

Nah, I’m not surprised about it. I think that it has all the heart. I think that it’s such a sweet franchise I’m honored to be a part of. It’s very cool that I got to step into that role after it being such a beloved and known kids’ show, especially among this younger generation. Like all of my friends, like younger siblings, watch the show, and then a lot of my friends watch the show growing up. So, it’s really cool to get to be a part of. I’ve always wanted to do animation and be an animated character, so it’s weird to have little toys and voice this little dog. It’s so cute to see my voice coming out of that. It’s weird.

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