`Ghostbusters` animated film in works

Los Angeles: Sony plans to expand its "Ghostbusters" franchise with a new animated film.

With Paul Feig's female-driven "Ghostbusters (2016)" less than a year away from its release, the studio has been already busy working on an untitled Ghostbusters cartoon film, reported Ace Showbiz.

The studio is developing the animated movie with Ivan Reitman tapped to produce through his Montecito Picture Company. Kristine Belson and Michael Lachance will oversee the project for Sony Pictures Animation.

The animation will follow a group of scientists fending off ghosts and ghouls in Manhattan. No director or stars have been announced and the studio is currently seeking a screenwriter for the project.

This is not the first time that the ghost-hunting team has got cartoonified. Previously, there were TV series entitled "The Real Ghostbusters", aired from 1986 to 1991, and "Extreme Ghostbusters" that debuted in 1997.

"Ghostbusters" reboot, starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon, will hit US theatres on July 15, 2016.