Ernie Hudson talks about how Ghostbusters: Afterlife was spiritual for him and a sequel script that he liked but might not be official. 2021 marked a significant year for the Ghostbusters franchise. The year was when the franchise revived audience interest as it merged original characters and new into one family story. Now, it is also the last Ghostbusters movie that franchise co-creator Ivan Reitman actively worked on.
Not a lot of franchises hold meaning to its actors as deep as the Ghostbusters did. Particularly to Hudson. As an interview with comicbook.com reveals, the actor felt coming back for the movie was ‘spiritual’. He even admits it may sound weird. However, that is how he felt at the time especially when his co-stars arrived on set.
The Ghostbusters franchise kicked off in 1984. Hudson has a supporting role as Winston Zeddemore with Annie Potts as Janine Melnitz. Lead roles belong to Bill Murray as Doctor Peter Venkman, Dan Aykroyd as Doctor Raymond Stantz and Harold Ramis as Dr. Egon Spengler. The story has the characters of Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis, Dana Barrett and Luis Tully transform into Zuul and Vinz Clortho.
Ernie Hudson Talks About Ghostbusters Afterlife And Sequel Script
Image: Sony Pictures
The original movie had the budget of $30M that zapped in $296M from the Worldwide Box Office records. To this day, even with the fourth movie last year, the 1984 movie had the highest grossing performance for the franchise. Furthermore, it has a whopping 97% critics’ rating on the TomatoMeter and an audience score of 88%.
37 years later, the fourth movie arrived in theaters with a budget of $75M that generated $204M. It is not that bad of a performance. Especially when it follows the disaster to critics and audience that was the 2016 Ghostbusters. Eventhough that had a $229M Worldwide Box Office record, the fourth movie still performed a better return after all the post production and marketing expenses. Aside from doing better financially after all accounting, Ghostbusters: Afterlife practically breathed the franchise a new life.
I did read a version. I’m pretty sure they committed to doing another one. I’m very happy with it, but I also know this is early on. Jason (Director Reitman) has been incredible, and I really just love and appreciate him. I’m so thankful to be able to work with him. So, I’m excited about but… I haven’t and I never assume anything.”
Reitman is on board with co-writer Gil Kenan for the sequel to Ghostbuster: Afterlife. Currently, the working title for this upcoming project is Firehouse. From other sources we gathered, the next movie will have scenes featuring New York. As Hudson shares, the franchise actually has Reitman as part of its legacy. The actor discloses:
Ernie Hudson Talks About Ghostbusters Afterlife And Sequel Script
Image: Sony Pictures
Jason Reitman — who actually was in the second movie, he was the kid who opens the second movie, and I just remember him being around the set on both of the movies. So I know that he grew up with them, it’s very personal to him, he wrote an amazing script, and he’s established himself as a director on his own right. He’s a wonderful director and so when this started to happen, and because Jason was involved, I felt this would actually happen, I was really excited about it. But when it happened, going to the set for the first time and seeing Sigourney Weaver and Bill [Murray] and Dan [Aykroyd], honestly, it was almost spiritual. I mean, I know that sounds weird, but I was very moved by it. I was very touched.
IMDb lists an untitled Ghostbuster: Afterlife sequel which does indeed have the director and the writer on the list of cast and crew. Apparently, Mckenna Grace, Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd and Finn Wolfhard also listed. Presumably, they will of course return as their previous characters. Hudson is not in the list but production has not even gotten into full swing. Nevertheless, the actor declares:
I am happy, though, to have Ghostbusters in my filmography. And I’m just really delighted when I see little kids, two and three years old, singing the song and being happy about it.
The sequel to Ghostbusters: Afterlife is on a December 2023 release date. No other updates or changes are coming from Sony.
