Ghostbusters actor Ernie Hudson rejected the idea that racism had anything to do with the role of Winston Zeddmore being reduced in the film.
Slimer in a trash pile in Columbia Pictures GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE.
Columbia Pictures originally wanted Eddie Murphy to play Zeddmore, but Murphy turned them down and the studio tapped Hudson for the role.
The character’s role in the film was also reduced and Hudson’s Zeddmore did not even show up in the first act of the film.
The Ecto-1 races through New York City in Columbia Pictures GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE.
In an interview with The Independent to promote Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Hudson rejected the idea that it was due to racism that his role was reduced. He said, “You know, being a person of African descent anywhere in the world, we’re all just learning how to live together and get along together and realise that we’re all connected. And it’s very tempting, sometimes, to blame anything that doesn’t work in your life on racism. But there are a lot of things that play into it. It’s not quite that simple.”
He would go on to reveal he was paid less than his co-stars, but said, “We can say it’s a racial thing, but I think if Eddie Murphy had played the role I played, he would have been paid very well. I think studios are in the business of making money and they pay what they feel they have to.”
A new villain in Columbia Pictures GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE.
Not only did Hudson reject that racism played a part in why the role of Zeddmore was reduced and why he was paid less than his co-stars, but he also shared his thoughts on the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot from director Paul Feig that starred Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones.
Hudson said, “Look, I’m a fan of [director] Paul Feig so I have nothing negative about him to say. Other than: I don’t quite understand why you do a reboot, you know what I mean? Just make another movie.”
“Fans were really invested in the story and the characters and I think it was disappointing. I enjoyed the movie but I think it wasn’t what fans were hoping for,” Hudson added.
Sewer Dragon Ghost being chased through New York in Columbia Pictures GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE.
Hudson also noted that Sony, which now owns Columbia Pictures, did listen to his feedback regarding the character for the most recent film, “Sony is not the same studio it was 40 years ago and they’ve really stepped up and given some dimension to the character. Credit to Sony for being open to hearing my feelings, because in the first one – they didn’t.”
Not only have they been listening to him about what to do with the character, Hudson shared he wants Winston to become the Nick Fury of the Ghostbusters, “I’d love for Winston Zeddemore to be the Nick Fury of the Ghostbusters.
He also shared what message he hopes to send through the character, “I wanted Winston to be an example of what’s possible. I mean, I’m 78 years old. I want to be a healthy man. I want to be a man with at least a few dollars. My wife and I have been together almost 50 years. I want to be just an example of a good life.”
Carrie Coon as Callie Spengler, McKenna Grace as Phoebe Spengler, Paul Rudd as Gary Grooberson, Finn Wolfhard as Trevor Spengler, and Ernie Hudson in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024), Sony Pictures
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is currently in theaters. The film grossed $45 million in its opening weekend at the domestic box office. The film has currently grossed $64.2 million globally. It reportedly has a production budget of $100 million.
What do you make of Hudson’s comments regarding Ghostbusters?
