The One Moment Ghostbusters’ Mckenna Grace Wanted ‘So Bad’ For Phoebe In Frozen Empire, But Didn’t Get
Mckenna Grace has been part of the Ghostbusters movies for a little while now and, as such, she’s gotten to take part in some truly memorable moments. In the role of Phoebe Spengler, she’s donned a proton pack, mixed it up with the franchise’s OGs and even manned the gunner seat of the Ecto-1. The series’ latest installment, Frozen Empire, expands her role and, as a result, Grace’s character is forced to grow up a bit. As much as the actress enjoyed her time working on the 2024 movie schedule entry, she revealed to CinemaBlend that there was one moment she wanted “so bad” but didn’t get.
Phoebe and her mother, Callie, and brother Trevor – alongside her former teacher, Gary Grooberson – are a true blue, ghostbusting crew in the new flick. The burgeoning family unit – who moved from Oklahoma to New York following Afterlife’s ending – come into contact with plenty of spectors as a result. However, there’s one supernatural encounter that young Phoebe doesn’t have, and it’s something McKenna Grace is clamoring for. I spoke to the star in promotion of Frozen Empire’s digital release, and she revealed there’s a certain creature she’s eager for her character to cross paths with:
I wanted to work with Slimer so bad. I just wanted a scene with Slimer. Whenever I first read the script, and I saw that Slimer was in it, I was like, ‘No way!’ And then I was like 50 pages in, and I was like, ‘Oh, there's Slimer again.’ And I was like 80 pages in, and I was like, ‘Where's me and Slimer in the same scene?!’ [Laughs] I wanted to work with Slimer so bad. It was so funny.
The green and slimy, food-loving ghost made his triumphant return in the movie and is revealed to be squatting in the attic of the Ghostbusters’ firehouse HQ. (And, of course, he gorges himself on snacks regularly.) While Phoebe didn’t get to meet him, Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) encountered the playful being and ended up getting slimed. As a fan, I can definitely understand the Spirit Untamed alum’s desire to be featured in a scene with the beloved ghost character, and it’s too bad she’s yet to mix it up with him. On the bright side, she did finally have the opportunity to share the screen with some other notable characters:
You know, I love that I got to meet like a little mini Puft [marshmallow man] this go round. That was very fun, because I, you know, I always wanted to work with, the little Stay Pufts or the big Stay Puft. Because, obviously, I'm a big fan of the original franchise and all the original ghosts. So like, any of the original ghosts, I just wanted to work with them. But I really wanted to work with Slimer. [If] we do a third one, please Ghostbusters.
More on Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Of course, the star also enjoys working with her human co-stars. She previously told CinemaBlend that she loved acting with Dan Aykroyd, who plays the amiable Ray Stantz. She also explained during our interview that she loved to have more scenes with Winston Zeddemore himself, Ernie Hudson (who discussed Winston’s backstory with CB just recently).
The future of the film series is currently unclear, as Sony Pictures has yet to give the greenlight to an additional installment in the supernatural comedy franchise. Should another flick happen, there’s definitely a possibility that Mckenna Grace will finally appear in a scene with Slimer. Here’s hoping the actress gets the opportunity to get covered in fake slime for such a scene just like several of her co-stars before her.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is currently available to rent or own digitally. The film is also set to be released on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD on June 25.
