‘Ghostbusters’ Star Ernie Hudson Calls 2016’s ‘Different Universe’ Reboot a ‘Mistake’

Ghostbusters star Ernie Hudson recently commented on the 2016 reboot film from a “different universe” was a “mistake.” While speaking with Living Life Fearless about his newest film, Redemption Day, the topic of the new Ghostbusters: Afterlife sequel came up. Hudson will appear in the film, reprising his role as Winston Zeddemore. When the conversation then turned to the all-female Ghostbusters reboot from a few years ago, Hudson was kind but candid about his stance on the film, first saying that he defines it as a “reboot,” which he “liked a lot.”

“I definitely loved everybody who was in it,” referring to stars Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones. Hudson also praised the director and co-writer Paul Feig, saying, “I’m still fans of theirs.” Hudson then went on to clarify his position. “They tried to do a reboot. And a reboot, to me, means you’re trying to do the movie over — another version of what we already did. And I think that was a mistake,” he said. “It wasn’t a continuation or an extension of. It was somehow a different universe there. You know what I mean? It’s kind of like us, but it’s us but not us. In that universe, they’re women. I don’t know. That was a choice that was made.”

The 2016 Ghostbusters film, which was subsequently re-branded as Ghostbusters: Answer the Call, has been a confusingly controversial movie since its release. Critics responded fairly favorable to it, with the Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus reading: “Ghostbusters does an impressive job of standing on its own as a freewheeling, marvelously cast supernatural comedy—even if it can’t help but pale somewhat in comparison with the classic original.” Audiences seemed to enjoy it as well, as it earned nearly $230 million at the box office, though the studio hoped it would earn $300 million or more. Notably, Hudson himself had a cameo in the film.

Now, Sony Pictures and Colombia Pitcures are preparing to release Ghostbusters: Afterlife, a sequel to the original Ghostbusters films from the 1980s. It is written by Gil Kenan
and Jason Reitman, with Reitman directing. Reitman’s father, Ivan Reitman — who directed Ghostbusters 1 and 2 — serves as a producer. Hudson will return, as will Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, and Annie Potts. Newcomers to the franchise include Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, and Paul Rudd. Ghostbusters: Afterlife is currently scheduled to be released on Nov. 11, 2021.