Ghostbusters star Ernie Hudson said racism was not the cause for his smaller role and lower pay compared to other stars of the franchise.
Hudson, who portrayed Winston Zeddemore throughout the series, discussed the Ghostbusters franchise in a Sunday interview with The Independent.
“Most things come and go,” Hudson said. “Not a lot of people noticed that I was in three films last year. But it’s just a job. It doesn’t give you special status."
Zeddemore initially played a larger role in the 1984 Ghostbusters script as the character was initially offered to Eddie Murphy, though the role was significantly reduced after the comedian turned down the offer. Hudson was later tapped to portray Zeddemore and became a fan-favorite of the franchise.
The actor noted his career had not seen the same success as other actors and referred to himself as a "working guy."
“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 realize that we’re all connected,” Hudson said. “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 added, referring to the concept as "reductive."
“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," Hudson said. "I think studios are in the business of making money and they pay what they feel they have to.”
Hudson said fellow Ghostbusters co-star Bill Murray petitioned for Hudson to receive a larger role in 1989's Ghostbusters II.
“[Murray] said he wouldn’t do another one unless I was involved. ... That doesn’t happen very much in this industry," he said.
The actor has appeared in all five Ghostbusters films, including the controversial female-led 2016 reboot.
"I’m a fan of 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?" Hudson said of the 2016 reboot's director. "Just make another movie.”
Hudson, who made a cameo as Uncle Bill Jenkins in the 2016 Ghostbusters, lauded the performances of Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones as "brilliantly funny on their own."
“Fans were really invested in the story and the characters and I think it was disappointing," he said. "I enjoyed the movie but I think it wasn’t what fans were hoping for.”
The actor reprised Zeddemore's role in the third and fourth cannon sequels Ghostbusters: Afterlife, released in 2021, and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, released earlier this month. Hudson said future sequels have not been discussed, though expressed interest in Zeddemore's character becoming the Nick Fury of the franchise.
“I wanted Winston to be an example of what’s possible,” he said. “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.”
