'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Interview: Ernie Hudson

Moviefone speaks with Ernie Hudson about the home entertainment release of 'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire'. "It's hard to separate me from the role," he said.

Available to buy or rent now is the fifth film in the beloved ‘Ghostbusters’ franchise and a direct sequel to ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ entitled ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.’

The new movie is co-written and produced by Jason Reitman (‘Juno’) and co-written and directed by Gil Kenan ('Poltergeist') and stars Paul Rudd (‘Ant-Man’), Carrie Coon (‘Avengers: Infinity War’), Mckenna Grace (‘Captain Marvel’), and Finn Wolfhard (‘Stranger Things’), as well as original cast members Bill Murray (‘Lost in Translation’), Dan Aykroyd (‘Trading Places’), Ernie Hudson (‘The Crow’), and Annie Potts (‘Toy Story 4’).

Ernie Hudson talks 'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire', which is available to buy or rent now.

Related Article: 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' Actor Ernie Hudson Talks New 'Quantum Leap'

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with original Ghostbuster Ernie Hudson about his work on ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,’ the legacy of the franchise, Winston Zeddemore’s new position on the team, and reuniting with Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Hudson, Mckenna Grace and Emily Alyn Lind.

Ernie Hudson Jr. at the London photocall of Columbia Pictures' 'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' on March 21, 2024 in London, England. Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for Columbia Pictures.

Moviefone: To begin with, you made the first ‘Ghostbusters’ over 40 years ago. What has it meant to you personally to be part of this franchise, to see it grow and become beloved, and return for ‘Frozen Empire’?

Ernie Hudson: Well, it's been over half my life, 40 years of ‘Ghostbusters’. I've been Winston Zeddemore to people I meet on the street and everywhere. So, it's hard to separate me from the role, and the fact that it's still current, that people still love it, wherever I go in the world ‘Ghostbusters’ fans will show up, and express to me how much the movie has meant to them, and their families. So yes. It's just very exciting, and I'm just so thankful that it has relevance in these 40 years after the fact. No way could I have imagined that this would be happening. But it is happening, and it's wonderful. As an actor, I've done a lot of movies over the years, and it's great to have one that people really connect to and hold onto.

Winston (Ernie Hudson) and Peter (Bill Murray) in Columbia Pictures’ 'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.'

MF: Can you talk about Winston’s role in the Ghostbusters research center in ‘Frozen Empire’ and is he now the official leader of the team?

EH: Well, I think he's stepped into that role. With Winston, it was very important for me, and thankfully Sony and Jason Reitman, heard what I was hoping for. Winston has grown. It's been 40 years, but he hasn't stayed in the same place. He's done very well. He's a businessman, but he's always loved the Ghostbusters. He's always appreciated the fact that these guys gave him a job when he really needed it. But he's also developed a curiosity in those first two movies of what was going on. What I love about ‘Frozen Empire’ is we get a chance to see Winston not only has done well in life, but he also has built this Ghostbuster research center looking into what's behind these ghosts. A lot of that comes out of over the years that I've done a lot of conventions. I meet a lot of families, and they tell me their stories. Some are scary, but people share a lot of feelings because I'm a Ghostbuster, I must understand what they're going through. I don't always, but I love the fact that Winston has created a place to explore, and to investigate those things, also, how those things impact our lives. It's not just trapping them and putting them away. So yeah. I'm happy that he's not just a guy still looking for a job, and I think he's really, I hope, an inspiration of what's possible, especially to a lot of young kids. The town I grew up in, in June, they're naming the street I grew up on after me. In life, you hope that you can be an example. I hope in the ‘Ghostbusters’ universe Winston is an example of what is achievable, what is doable, and still holds onto his humanity. I see so many stories of people achieving things, but somehow in the process, they've lost their connection with the community, and with who they are, and Winston loves the Ghostbusters. All of that is very important to me.

(L to R) Ernie Hudson and Dan Aykroyd attend the New York World Premiere of Columbia Pictures' 'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' at the AMC Lincoln Square Theater. Photo: Marion Curtis / StarPix for Sony Pictures.

MF: Finally, you have a very emotional scene in the movie with Dan Aykroyd. What was it like shooting that scene with him and reuniting with Aykroyd and Bill Murray?

EH: Well, of course they're geniuses. Honestly, I'm an actor, not just an actor, but I love what I do. But Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd, they come up with stuff that it just boggles the mind. I love working with them, and Danny especially, who I think doesn't always get the credit (he deserves). Danny's a wonderful actor. He is very down to Earth, and he brings a reality too. I love the first movie where we had the scene in the car. A lot of fans still will bring that up, but (I love) anytime I get a chance to work with Danny, because he's there a hundred percent completely. I think (in that scene) with the idea of retiring, basically Winston is saying (to Ray), "We can't be running around here now. You'll fall down and hurt yourself." I love that scene. I just love working with Danny Aykroyd. I really appreciate him. With Bill Murray, it's easy for me to say things too. I think he knows how much I really appreciate him, but with Danny, sometimes it’s hard for me to to let him know how much I really appreciate him. But I just think he's an amazing talent.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

"It'll send a chill down your spine."

PG-131 hr 55 minMar 14th, 2024

Showtimes & Tickets

Watch Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Online

What is the plot of ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’?

The Spengler family returns to where it all started – the iconic New York City firehouse – to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who've developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level. But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age.

Who is in the cast of 'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’?

Paul Rudd as Gary Grooberson
Carrie Coon as Callie Spengler
Finn Wolfhard as Trevor Spengler
Mckenna Grace as Phoebe Spengler
Kumail Nanjiani as Nadeem Razmaadi
Patton Oswalt as Dr. Hubert Wartzki
Celeste O'Connor as Lucky Domingo
Logan Kim as Podcast
Emily Alyn Lind as Melody
James Acaster as Dr. Lars Pinfield
Bill Murray as Dr. Peter Venkman
Dan Aykroyd as Dr. Raymond "Ray" Stantz
Ernie Hudson as Winston Zeddemore
Annie Potts as Janine Melnitz
William Atherton as Mayor Walter Peck

Ernie Hudson Jr. at the London photocall of Columbia Pictures' 'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' on March 21, 2024 in London, England. Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for Columbia Pictures.