Who you gonna call? Netflix! The streaming giant has officially unveiled Ghostbusters: Night Shift, an original animated series that marks the beloved franchise’s highly anticipated return to television animation. Set to debut in 2027, the series promises to bring supernatural comedy and paranormal action back to the small screen for the first time since Extreme Ghostbusters ended its run in 1997.
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Ghostbusters: Night Shift – The Next Chapter Begins
The announcement was made on Saturday, June 8, 2026—officially declared “Ghostbusters Day” to celebrate the anniversary of the first film’s release on June 8, 1984—at a ceremony at the Hook & Ladder 8 firehouse in New York City, where the original Ghostbusters and several of its sequels have been filmed. The reveal included an underground zine-style logo that evokes the aesthetic of classic comics, hinting at the show’s unique visual approach.
Netflix describes the series as marking “the next chapter in the franchise’s ghoul-catching legacy, bringing supernatural comedy and paranormal action back to animation,” with the show being executive produced by Ben Hibon, Elliott Kalan, Jason Reitman, Gil Kenan, Amie Karp, and Dan Aykroyd.
Series Overview
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Official Title | Ghostbusters: Night Shift |
| Premiere Date | 2027 (Exact date TBA) |
| Streaming Platform | Netflix (Exclusive) |
| Production Companies | Sony Pictures Animation, Netflix, Ghost Corps |
| Animation Studio | Flying Bark Productions |
| First Announcement | June 8, 2022 |
| Title Reveal | June 8, 2026 (Ghostbusters Day) |
The Creative Powerhouse Behind Night Shift
The series boasts an impressive lineup of talent both in front of and behind the camera. Showrunners Ben Hibon (Star Trek: Prodigy, Tales of Runeterra, Heavenly Sword) and Elliott Kalan (HouseBroken, Mystery Science Theater 3000, The Daily Show), who also serves as the show’s writer, lead the creative team.
Dan Aykroyd Returns to Ghostbusters
One of the biggest announcements is that OG Ghostbuster and franchise co-creator Dan Aykroyd has joined the series as an executive producer. This marks a significant endorsement from one of the franchise’s original creators and ensures authentic continuity with the Ghostbusters legacy.
Creative Team & Executive Producers
| Name | Role | Notable Work |
|---|---|---|
| Ben Hibon | Showrunner/Executive Producer | Star Trek: Prodigy, Heavenly Sword |
| Elliott Kalan | Showrunner/Writer/Executive Producer | Mystery Science Theater 3000, The Daily Show |
| Jason Reitman | Executive Producer | Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire |
| Gil Kenan | Executive Producer | Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire |
| Dan Aykroyd | Executive Producer | Original Ghostbusters creator/star |
| Amie Karp | Executive Producer (Ghost Corps) | Ghostbusters franchise oversight |
Reitman, son of Ivan Reitman (director of the original Ghostbusters features), and Kenan co-wrote the franchise’s most recent installments, Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Frozen Empire, bringing their deep understanding of the franchise to the animated series.
Flying Bark Productions: Animation Excellence
The series is being overseen by showrunners Ben Hibon and Elliott Kalan, with animation produced by Flying Bark Productions, the studio known for its work on Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Glitch Techs, and Stranger Things: Tales from ’85.
Flying Bark Productions is an Australian entertainment and animation studio that has earned critical acclaim for its innovative visual storytelling. Their involvement suggests Ghostbusters: Night Shift will feature cutting-edge animation techniques and dynamic action sequences.
Animation Production Details
| Studio | Role | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Sony Pictures Animation | Lead Production | United States |
| Flying Bark Productions | Animation Production | Sydney, Australia & Spain |
| Netflix Animation | Distribution & Partnership | Global |
| Ghost Corps, Inc. | Brand Oversight | United States |
What to Expect: Tone and Style
Executive producer Amie Karp described Night Shift as “the next evolution within the Ghostbusters universe” featuring “a lot of fun elements,” while also teasing “lots of horror” and “lots of comedy,” suggesting the series will embrace the same balance of scares and laughs that has defined Ghostbusters since 1984.
The creative team emphasized that the series is being designed for longtime fans while remaining accessible to newcomers, describing the show as being “for everybody,” with Kalan adding that anyone who fell in love with the original 1984 film should find plenty to enjoy in this new animated adventure.
Expected Series Elements
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Horror | Genuinely scary supernatural encounters |
| Comedy | Irreverent humor and witty banter |
| Action | Paranormal ghost-catching spectacle |
| Characters | New generation of Ghostbusters |
| Setting | Unexplored era and decade in franchise canon |
| Visual Style | High-end animation with unique aesthetic |
Development Journey and Production Status
Originally announced during Ghostbusters Day 2022, the animated project has spent the last several years quietly progressing behind the scenes, with only occasional updates emerging through industry events and trade reports.
Gil Kenan has confirmed that Ghostbusters: Night Shift is in full development, with scripts, art, and supernatural worldbuilding underway. This indicates the series is well past the conceptual phase and actively moving toward completion.
Production Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| June 8, 2022 | Series initially announced |
| August 12, 2024 | Series officially greenlit by Netflix |
| March 2024 | Gil Kenan confirms full development status |
| April 13, 2025 | Flying Bark Productions announces involvement |
| April 23, 2025 | Series announced for Annecy Festival preview |
| June 8, 2026 | Official title and logo revealed |
| June 24, 2026 | World exclusive preview at Annecy Festival |
| 2027 | Series premiere on Netflix |
Annecy International Animation Film Festival Preview
The project is set to be spotlighted during the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, with Reitman, Kenan, Hibon, and Kalan on hand for June 24th’s “Next on Netflix Animation: from Ghostbusters to Brad Bird’s Ray Gunn,” which will include a world-exclusive preview of the 2027-debuting series.
This prestigious festival appearance demonstrates Netflix and Sony’s confidence in the project and provides fans with their first substantial glimpse of what to expect from the animated series.
The Ghostbusters Franchise Legacy
The theatrical franchise has generated $1.14 billion in revenue across five movies through four decades, establishing Ghostbusters as one of the most enduring and beloved franchises in pop culture history.
Ghostbusters Film Timeline
| Film | Year | Box Office |
|---|---|---|
| Ghostbusters | 1984 | $295.2 million |
| Ghostbusters II | 1989 | $215.4 million |
| Ghostbusters: Answer the Call | 2016 | $229.1 million |
| Ghostbusters: Afterlife | 2021 | $204.3 million |
| Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire | 2024 | $201.5 million |
Previous Animated Series Success
The series is the first for the franchise since the series “Extreme Ghostbusters” ended its run in 1997. This represents a 30-year gap between animated series, making the return to television animation all the more significant.
The Real Ghostbusters (1986-1991) became a massive success, continuing the adventures of the original team and introducing Ghostbusters to new generations. Extreme Ghostbusters (1997) followed with a new generation of paranormal investigators mentored by Egon Spengler.
Ghostbusters Animated History
| Series | Years | Seasons | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Real Ghostbusters | 1986-1991 | 7 seasons | Original animated adaptation |
| Extreme Ghostbusters | 1997 | 1 season | Next generation team |
| Ghostbusters: Night Shift | 2027-TBA | TBA | First series in 30 years |
Netflix’s Animation Expansion
Night Shift is one of three animated Ghostbusters projects in development for Netflix, including an animated film and a sequel series called Ghostbusters: Ecto Force set in 2050. This multi-pronged approach demonstrates both Netflix and Sony’s commitment to expanding the Ghostbusters universe through animation.
Netflix has been teaming up with notable animation studio Flying Bark Productions on a number of big projects now in various stages of development, and fans recently saw the first of this partnership take place with the launch of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 (which has already confirmed a new season).
Netflix Ghostbusters Projects
| Project | Format | Status | Setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghostbusters: Night Shift | Series | 2027 Release | Unexplored era/decade |
| Untitled Ghostbusters Film | Feature Film | In Development | TBA |
| Ghostbusters: Ecto Force | Series | In Development | 2050 |
Read More: First Look at Scooby in Netflix’s Live-Action Scooby Doo Series Out Now
FAQs
When will Ghostbusters: Night Shift premiere on Netflix?
Ghostbusters: Night Shift is scheduled to debut exclusively on Netflix in 2027. An exact premiere date has not been announced yet, but fans can expect more details following the June 24, 2026 preview at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
Who are the showrunners and creative team behind the series?
Ben Hibon and Elliott Kalan serve as showrunners and executive producers. The series is also executive produced by Jason Reitman, Gil Kenan, Amie Karp, and original Ghostbusters co-creator Dan Aykroyd, with animation by Flying Bark Productions.
Is this the first Ghostbusters animated series?
No, this is the third Ghostbusters animated series. The Real Ghostbusters ran from 1986-1991, and Extreme Ghostbusters aired in 1997. However, Night Shift is the first new Ghostbusters animated series in 30 years.
What animation studio is producing Ghostbusters: Night Shift?
Flying Bark Productions, the Australian studio behind Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Glitch Techs, and Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, is handling animation production in partnership with Sony Pictures Animation.
Will the series feature original Ghostbusters characters or new ones?
Details about the cast and characters are currently being kept under wraps. The creative team has indicated the series will explore an unexplored era and decade of canon with new characters and places, but specific details have not been revealed.
