Ernie Hudson says GHOSTBUSTERS script and marketing sidelined him and he’s “just not trying to take it personally yet”

ghost Buster star Ernie Hudson recently appeared on Howard Stern’s closing showand during the discussion, he spoke about his time making the film and his experience of how it was “selectively pushed [him] aside” during the making of the film and marketing of the classic supernatural comedy. One of the biggest things fans notice is that he wasn’t featured in the adjacent poster Bill Murray, Harold RamisAND Dan Aykroyd. Hudson spoke about the difficulty of the study putting it aside saying:

“The studio was not [inclusive], and the studio still didn’t. So it made it very, very difficult because I was a part of it, but then I was very selectively sidelined… The original script, Winston was right at the beginning of the movie. When we got ready to shoot the film, Winston was halfway through the film. All that stuff… It definitely felt deliberate.

I remember hearing about it and how Winston had a much bigger role in the film in that first draft of the script. Hudson continued on about the poster saying:

“When the posters came out, I wasn’t on the poster. It took a long time. I went to the 30th anniversary movie release and all the posters are of three guys. Now I know the fans see it differently, and I’m so thankful for the fans because the fans basically identified with Winston, especially the young, I don’t mean minority kids, but a lot of kids.

Hudson explains what to do ghost Buster it is “the most difficult film” of his career “from a psychological point of view”. He explained that he’s still not trying to take it personally, but it was still difficult:

“I’m still not trying to take it personally. Anything bad, if you’re African American in this country, something bad happens to you, you can always blame it [being] Black. You don’t want to go there. It’s the last thing I want to do. I have nothing bad to say about anyone but it was hard. It took me 10 years to get over that and enjoy the movie and just embrace the movie. It was really hard to make peace with ‘Ghostbusters’.

Hudson reprized his role in Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and will appear in that sequel. In fact, Hudson is said to have a decent sized role to play in the sequel. Producer Jason Reitmann previously shared: “Winston Zeddemore and Zeddemore Industries character figures strongly in the future of Ghostbusters.” When he talked about joining that film, he said:

“Even now, we’re negotiating a new movie that’s gearing up to start shooting in March, and I’m like, ‘Guys, there’s a seat… I’m not an add-on.’ So if I’m going to do this, it has to make sense.

The film has previously been described as “the next chapter in the Spengler family story.” It will officially return to New York City and is also expected to take place in the fire department headquarters that was featured in the first two ghost Buster movie.

Hudson has previously spoken about the script, saying, “I’ve read one version. I’m pretty sure they’re committed to another one. I’m very happy with it, but I also know it’s early days. Jason was incredible, and I love him.” and I really appreciate it. I’m so grateful to be able to work with him. So, I’m excited but… I never have and never assume anything. I’m happy, though, to have Ghostbusters in my filmography. And I’m really happy when I see little kids , two and three years old, singing the song and being happy with it”.

The sequel to Ghostbusters: Afterlife it is currently set for December 20, 2023.

Via IndieWire