The follow up to 2021’s ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ sees the Spengler Family fully embracing their new lives as Ghostbusters, roaming all over New York City investigating paranormal activities and trapping ghosts. All of that ghost catching comes with a price when they find out the spirit containment unit is at full capacity. On top of it all, an ancient entity has been unleashed, ready to turn the world into his icy playground.
Did you miss this paranormal adventure on the big screen? Don’t worry, the movie is now available on VOD for rent or purchase, so you can watch it from the comfort of your couch or your personal Ecto-1.
‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ has a runtime of 1 hour and 55 minutes. As of April 30, 2024, the movie was made available to rent for $19.99 or purchase for $24.99 on VOD platforms such as Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, and Vudu.
With ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ raking in over $198.9 million at the global box office, it has become the fourth biggest movie of 2024 so far. Despite the low critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, the fans enjoyed the movie, garnering it an 83% audience score. It’s easy to see why the moviegoers enjoyed this chapter in the Ghostbusters franchise. The nostalgia hits hard when the film reunites the original Ghostbusters cast members as they take up their uniforms and proton packs for another round of ghostbusting.
While there has not been any confirmed plans for the next Ghostbusters movie, it is clear its original cast members loves being a part of the story and legacy.
“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.”
‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ will be released on DVD, Blu-Ray, and 4K UHD on June 25th. Collectors can also look forward to a 2-film collection set, which will include both ‘Afterlife’ and ‘Frozen Empire.’ The home release will feature bonus content such as:
Return to the Firehouse: Making of ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’
Watch the official trailers for ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire below:
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The official synopsis for ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ is below:
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.
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.
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.
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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’?
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.
Other Movies and TV Shows in the ‘Ghostbusters’ Franchise:
With all the throat-clearing and reintroductions of ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ behind us, it might be natural to think that ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ could forge ahead into a new story and era with the next generation of paranormal investigators. But no, ‘Frozen Empire’ rounds up a large ensemble of both old and new cast members and gives almost all of them nothing to do, except stand around and spout either tired jokes or even more tiring exposition.
Five films in, this remains a property that is firmly mired in past glories – or, to be exact, the memory of one glorious film that came out 40 years ago. But it’s resoundingly clear that this should never have been a franchise in the first place, and ‘Frozen Empire’ is a hollow example of corporate mandates at their worst. Director/co-writer Gil Kenan (who also co-wrote ‘Afterlife’) and co-writer Jason Reitman (who directed ‘Afterlife’) have no new ideas and nothing to say, and it’s only the work of a handful of the actors that holds – barely – one’s attention.
It’s two years since the events of ‘Afterlife’ and the descendants of Egon Spengler – his daughter Callie (Carrie Coon), her kids Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) and Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), along with surrogate dad/scientist Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd) – have relocated to New York City and now have taken over the Ghostbusters business, working and living in the old firehouse where the original Ghostbusters did the same.
As for the originals, they continue to do paranormal research at a fully equipped lab financed by Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson), with Ray Stentz (Dan Aykroyd) offering advice to the new team and Winston’s staff of engineers working on new and improved equipment.
After an initially promising opening in which we see Phoebe, Callie, Finn, and Gary head out in the Ecto-1 for an energetic pursuit of a Sewer Dragon, ‘Frozen Empire’ settles into an hour and a half of tedium marked by occasional events that may or may not be of interest. Unfortunately, we’re also back to the same old, same old, as some of the damage caused by the Ghostbusters’ efforts in the city puts them in the crosshairs of the OG team’s enemy from back in the day, now-Mayor Walter Peck (William Atherton in a thankless return), who is still determined after all these years to shut the Ghostbusters down.
Meanwhile, a fellow named Nadeem Razmaadi (Kumail Nanjiani) wanders into Ray’s bookshop with a bunch of his late grandmother’s relics to sell, including a strange sphere that – as we saw in a prologue set 100 years earlier – has the power to turn both objects and human beings into ice. The sphere certainly generates enough psychic energy to send Ray’s lab equipment into a tizzy, warranting further investigation.
Just what that sphere contains, and what role Nadeem has to play, is unveiled in one stultifying exposition dump after another, although some of it is at least amusingly delivered by Patton Oswalt in a cameo as the Fox Mulder of the New York Public Library (he also works in the basement). At the same time, Phoebe – feeling down and dejected because she’s been benched due to her age – strikes up a relationship with a young teenage ghost (Emily Alyn Lind) that is clearly gay despite the filmmakers straining hard to avoid confirming that fact.
Loads of exposition, endless nods to the past (poor Paul Rudd, who’s actually one of the film’s few bright spots, speaks-sings the famous theme song at one point), and the paper-thin plot at the center of the movie all conspire to make ‘Frozen Empire’ a slog, until we get to the CG-heavy third act battle – complete with column of psychic power emanating upward into the clouds (we thought we’d put that tired visual device behind us).
But none of this is very funny, very entertaining, or compelling to watch, and the mechanics of the plot and overstuffed cast means that most of the actors get little or nothing of importance to do, and often disappear for long stretches. By the end, they all have to come together – including a barely registering Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) – to defeat yet another digitally-created entity from the other side with a murky plan to destroy the world. For most of the running time, however, ‘Frozen Empire’ plods along, with Kenan seemingly unable to draw any life or energy out of this well-worn narrative.
One of the things people appreciated most about ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ was the introduction of its new cast, which also included the Spenglers’ new friends/helpmates Lucky (Celeste O’Connor) and Podcast (Logan Kim). All of them are back, but most of them are sidelined with the exception of Mckenna Grace’s Phoebe. Carrie Coon and Finn Wolfhard are given shockingly little in terms of story or character arc, with Coon looking bored throughout (she’s even sitting and scrolling through her phone in one scene) and Wolfhard literally vanishing from the film for much of its second act.
Grace and Paul Rudd fare better and carry a lot of the film, with Rudd providing his usual effortless charm. Grace is also very good, although she’s given a plot turn late in the movie that makes no sense at all, especially in light of events that follow it. As for the new additions, Nanjiani makes the most out of a thin character but does get most of the funnier lines (and delivers them well), while Oswalt relishes his brief time onscreen and provides his usual caustic presence.
Which brings us to the OG Ghostbusters. Aykroyd plays a more integral part in this story – although he’s more or less Basil Exposition – and manages to come off the best, while Ernie Hudson is just glad to be there and makes sure you know it as he smiles constantly for the camera. He and Aykroyd share a brief moment in which they ponder getting old, but it’s a theme with little potency as it’s never brought up again. As for Murray, he neither has a lot of screen time nor anything meaningful to provide to the story – sadly, Peter Venkman is a shadow of his former self (thankfully, there are no further cameos from the “ghost” of the late Harold Ramis’ Egon). And what happened to Sigourney Weaver’s Dana, glimpsed at the end of the last film?
A headline recently appeared online that asked if ‘Ghostbusters’ could just go back to being one of the great comedies of the 1980s, without the constant corporate mandate to make it into a franchise. We sadly could not agree more at this point. This is a property that’s truly running on fumes, and we’re really not sure if even a blast from a proton pack could reignite it.
‘Ghostbusters’ is like ‘Star Wars’ in a way too – as much as the franchise seems to want to move forward, it always ends up being stuck in the past. While both ‘Afterlife’ and ‘Frozen Empire’ contain little sparks of inspiration – mostly in the casting – the property’s reliance on nostalgia, combined with a lack of fresh narrative ideas or jokes, make ‘Frozen Empire’ a tedious, enervating sit. Let’s not answer the call anymore.
‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ receives 4 out of 10 stars.
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What is the Plot of ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’?
As the descendants of Egon Spengler continue the ghostbustin’ business in New York City with the support of the rest of the original Ghostbusters, a new paranormal menace threatens to put the Big Apple into a deep freeze and unleash a second Ice Age upon the rest of humanity.
Who is in the Cast of ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’?
(Left) Lamorne Morris in ‘Fargo’ Season 5. Photo: FX. (Center) Dylan O’Brien in ‘American Assassin.’ Photo: Lionsgate. (Left) Cory Michael Smith in ‘Gotham.’ Photo: Warner Bros. Television.
Preview:
Jason Reitman is making a movie about ‘SNL’s origins.
Dylan O’Brien, Lamorne Morris and Cory Michael Smith are among the latest additions.
The actors will play ‘SNL’ comedy legends such as Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase.
While Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan have largely focused their energies on creating new ‘Ghostbusters’ movies (their latest, ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’, hits theaters in March), they’ve also quietly been at work on writing a new movie that will look at the fraught first night broadcast of ‘Saturday Night Live’.
With Kenan having taken directorial duties on ‘Frozen Empire’, that has freed Reitman up to develop and prepare to direct ‘SNL 1975’, which is set behind the scenes of the televisual comedy institution.
(L to R) Laraine Newman, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, Garrett Morris and Chevy Chase on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Photo: NBC.
On October 11, 1975, a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television forever. ‘SNL 1975’ is the true story of what happened behind the scenes that night in the moments leading up to the first broadcast of NBC’s SNL. It depicts the chaos and magic of a revolution that almost wasn’t, counting down the minutes in real time to the infamous words, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!”
The screenplay is based on an extensive series of interviews conducted by Reitman and Kenan with all the living cast, writers and crew.
(Left) Gabriel LaBelle in ‘The Fabelmans.’ Photo: Universal Pictures. (Left Center) Kim Matula in ‘Checkin it Twice.’ Photo: Hallmark Channel. (Right Center) Ella Hunt in ‘Anna and the Apocalypse.’ Photo: Vertigo Releasing. (Right) Cooper Hoffman in ‘Licorice Pizza.’ Photo: United Artists Releasing.
There are also those behind the scenes of ‘Saturday Night Live’, with Gabriel LaBelle playing Lorne Michaels, the legendary creator and producer of the show whose eye for talent has led to careers for a host of people, with Cooper Hoffman as Dick Ebersol, an ambitious NBC executive who helped shepherd the show to air.
Finally –– at least for now –– is Rachel Sennott, who will be Rosie Shuster, a Canadian comedy writer and actor who was married to Michaels at the time and worked on the show.
When will ‘SNL 1975’ be in theaters?
Sony is backing the new movie, but the studio has yet to confirm a release date, and Reitman is still in pre-production. ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’, meanwhile, will be in theaters on March 22nd.
(L to R) Jason Reitman and Ivan Reitman at Premiere of ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife.’ Photo Courtesy of Reuters.
The actor began his career acting opposite Alicia Silverstone in ‘Clueless’ and went on to appear in Judd Apatow comedies like ‘Knocked Up’ and ‘This Is 40’ before starring in the ‘Ant-Man’ franchise for Marvel.
Rattled by sudden unemployment, a Manhattan couple (Jennifer Aniston and Rudd) surveys alternative living options, ultimately deciding to experiment with living on a rural commune where free love rules.
In director Baz Luhrmann’s contemporary take on William Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, the Montagues and Capulets have moved their ongoing feud to the sweltering suburb of Verona Beach, where Romeo (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Juliet (Claire Danes) fall in love and secretly wed. Though the film is visually modern, the bard’s dialogue remains.
Rising executive Tim Conrad (Rudd) works for a boss who hosts a monthly dinner in which the guest who brings the biggest buffoon gets a career-boost. Tim plans on not attending until he meets Barry (Steve Carell), a man who builds dioramas using stuffed mice. Barry’s blundering but good intentions send Tim’s life into a downward spiral, threatening a major business deal and possibly scuttling Tim’s engagement to his fiancee.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1991. High school freshman Charlie (Logan Lerman) is a wallflower, always watching life from the sidelines, until two senior students, Sam (Emma Watson) and her stepbrother Patrick (Ezra Miller), become his mentors, helping him discover the joys of friendship, music and love.
Having suffered a tragedy, Ben (Rudd) becomes a caregiver to earn money. His first client, Trevor (Craig Roberts), is a hilarious 18-year-old with muscular dystrophy. One paralyzed emotionally, one paralyzed physically, Ben and Trevor hit the road on a trip into the western states. The folks they collect along the way will help them test their skills for surviving outside their calculated existence. Together, they come to understand the importance of hope and the necessity of true friendship.
Straitlaced Princeton University admissions officer, Portia Nathan (Tine Fey) is caught off-guard when she makes a recruiting visit to an alternative high school overseen by her former college classmate, the freewheeling John Pressman (Rudd). Pressman has surmised that Jeremiah (Nat Wolff), his gifted yet very unconventional student, might well be the son that Portia secretly gave up for adoption many years ago.
Following the events of ‘Age of Ultron,’ the collective governments of the world pass an act designed to regulate all superhuman activity. This polarizes opinion amongst the Avengers, causing two factions to side with Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) or Captain America (Chris Evans), which causes an epic battle between former allies.
When Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell) dumps aspiring musician Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) for rock star Aldous Snow (Russell Brand), Peter’s world comes crashing down. His best friend suggests that Peter should get away from everything and to fly off to Hawaii to escape all his problems. After arriving in Hawaii and meeting the beautiful Rachel Jansen (Mila Kunis), Peter is shocked to see not only Aldous Snow in Hawaii, but also Sarah Marshall.
Just when his time under house arrest is about to end, Scott Lang (Rudd) once again puts his freedom at risk to help Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) dive into the quantum realm and try to accomplish, against time and any chance of success, a very dangerous rescue mission.
For fun loving party animal Ben Stone (Seth Rogen), the last thing he ever expected was for his one night stand (Katherine Heigl) to show up on his doorstep eight weeks later to tell him she’s pregnant.
When a single mom (Carrie Coon) and her two kids (Finn Wolfhard and McKenna Grace) arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather (Harold Ramis) left behind.
Andy Stitzer (Steve Carell) has a pleasant life with a nice apartment and a job stamping invoices at an electronics store. But at age 40, there’s one thing Andy hasn’t done, and it’s really bothering his sex-obsessed male co-workers: Andy is still a virgin. Determined to help Andy get laid, the guys make it their mission to de-virginize him. But it all seems hopeless until Andy meets small business owner Trish, a single mom.
Two salesmen (Rudd and Seann William Scott) trash a company truck on an energy drink-fueled bender. Upon their arrest, the court gives them a choice: do hard time or spend 150 service hours with a mentorship program. After one day with the kids, however, jail doesn’t look half bad.
Peter Klaven (Rudd) is a successful real estate agent who, upon getting engaged to the woman of his dreams, Zooey (Rashida Jones), discovers, to his dismay and chagrin, that he has no male friend close enough to serve as his Best Man. Peter immediately sets out to rectify the situation, embarking on a series of bizarre and awkward “man-dates.”
Shallow, rich and socially successful Cher (Alicia Silverstone) is at the top of her Beverly Hills high school’s pecking scale. Seeing herself as a matchmaker, Cher first coaxes two teachers into dating each other. Emboldened by her success, she decides to give hopelessly klutzy new student Tai (Brittany Murphy) a makeover. When Tai becomes more popular than she is, Cher realizes that her disapproving ex-stepbrother (Rudd) was right about how misguided she was — and falls for him.
It’s the 1970s and San Diego anchorman Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) is the top dog in local TV, but that’s all about to change when ambitious reporter Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) arrives as a new employee at his station.
After the devastating events of ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos (Josh Brolin). With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos’ actions and restore order to the universe once and for all, no matter what consequences may be in store.
Pete (Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann) are both about to turn 40, their kids hate each other, both of their businesses are failing, they’re on the verge of losing their house, and their relationship is threatening to fall apart.
Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang (Rudd) must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Doctor Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.
(L to R) Gil Kenan, Director Jason Reitman, and Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment Tony Vinciquerra at Echo-Fest on the lot of Sony Pictures in celebration of Ghostbusters Day.
Following on from Paul Feig’s reboot in 2016, the ‘Ghostbusters’ cinematic (sprit) world continued in more direct fashion via last year’s ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’, co-written and directed by Jason Reitman, son of Ivan, who made the first two movies in 1984 and 1989.
Kenan, of course, is no stranger to ‘Afterlife’––he co-wrote the first film with Reitman and produced it, which means that for the sequel, the two filmmakers are effectively swapping roles. They’ve worked on the script together again, and now Reitman will produce the sequel.
‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ picked up the story of the Spengler family––that would be Egon Spengler, played by the late Harold Ramis in the original two movies––decades later. After Egon dies attempting to stop a resurgence of supernatural power in Summerville, Oklahoma, his estranged daughter Callie (Carrie Coon), her daughter Phoebe (McKenna Grace) and son Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) move to the small town to pack up his ramshackle house.
(L to R) Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, and Logan Kim in ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife.’
There, they discover his research into the potential return of Gozer (the big bad from the 1984 movie) and Phoebe in particular shows an interest in Ghostbusting, encouraged by local teacher Gary (Paul Rudd). Together the family has to face this new threat while dealing with the legacy of the past, which––spoiler alert––also shows up physically in the form of surviving Ghostbusters Ray Stanz (Dan Aykroyd), Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) and Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson).
An end credits seen sees Winston, who has gone on to become a successful businessman, bringing the restored Ecto-1 vehicle back to its original New York firehouse home. Reitman has said that that’s where the story for the sequel will take place, though there are no other details just.
We do know that the core ensemble, including Coon, Rudd, Grace and Wolfhard, should return.
“It’s an absolute honor to pick up the proton pack and step behind the camera for the next chapter of the Spengler family saga,” said Kenan in a statement. “I just wish I could go back to 1984 and tell the kid in the sixth row of the Mann Valley West that one day he was going to get to direct a ‘Ghostbusters’ film.”
“A few years ago, my father handed me the keys to Ecto-1, and together we made ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ ” said Reitman. “Words will never express how grateful I am to have made a film with my father by my side. It’s now time to hand those keys to my creative partner and fellow Ghostbuster Gil Kenan, a brilliant director who will keep the Spengler spirit alive. I can only hope to provide him the same producorial care and support that my father showed me.”
(L to R) Gil Kenan, Logan Kim, Ernie Hudson, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures EntertainmentTony Vinciquerra and Director Jason Reitman at Echo-Fest on the lot of Sony Pictures in celebration of Ghostbusters Day.
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Premiering September 19th on NBC is ‘Quantum Leap,’ which is a continuation of the classic 1980’s series.
Thirty years after the disappearance of Dr. Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula), the series stars Raymond Lee as Dr. Ben Song, the lead physicist on the new Quantum Leap project.
When Song becomes lost in the past just like Beckett, his present day team must figure out a way to finally bring him home, including girlfriend Addison Augustine (Caitlin Bassett) and the head of the Quantum Leap project, Herbert “Magic” Williams (Ernie Hudson), who has ties to the original program.
Actor Ernie Hudson has appeared in dozens of popular film and television projects including ‘The Crow,’ ‘Congo,’ ‘Miss Congeniality,’ and HBO’s groundbreaking series ‘Oz.’
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Ernie Hudson about his work on ‘Quantum Leap.’
The actor discussed the new series, its ties to the original, how it’s different, his character, working with the cast, and the future of the show, as well as reuniting with Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd for ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife,’ possibly returning for the next installment of the franchise, and his memories of the late great Ivan Reitman.
Ernie Hudson as Herbert “Magic” Williams in NBC’s ‘Quantum Leap.’ Photo by Ron Batzdorff/NBC. 2022 NBCUniversal Media, LLC.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch a video expert from the interview.
Moviefone: To begin with, were you a fan of the original series, and what was your reaction when you were approached for this new version of ‘Quantum Leap?’
Ernie Hudson: I was a fan, even though I’m not really avid, I wasn’t an avid fan. I didn’t watch it every week, but I did watch it from time to time. I was a single dad during that time, and my two older boys, we would watch it and it was a great show where we could talk about the theme and what had happened in that particular leap. But I certainly was a big fan of Scott Bakula. I just thought he had such a charm and presence about him.
Then when I heard about this show, and when they asked me to do this, I was like, “Oh, it was a fun show.” But my kids, my two older boys, they were really excited about it. They said, “Dad, this is ‘Quantum Leap!’” So, I’m very happy to be a part of it.
MF: How would you describe your character, Herbert “Magic” Williams, and can you talk about how he is connected to the original series?
EH: I’m always a little bit unsure exactly how much to share. But Magic is someone who I’ll say was impacted in the original series and that leap has troubled him. He’s a military man and as he moved up in the Navy, he became an admiral. He has just been puzzled by what happened, and so he finds out about this secret project and really does everything he can to get it back up and running. Primarily because he feels his life was altered and Sam is still out there, and it’s very important for him to try to bring him home.
So he runs the program. He’s responsible for the program being up again, and of course, nothing runs quite smoothly. Just when things seem to be working very well, my lead scientist, Dr. Ben Song, decides to leap without permission and of course just throws everything off. Magic has the answer to the Pentagon. He has to answer to all the investors, all the people who are invested in this thing, and it’s a bit out of control right now for him.
Then it gets complicated because in his mind, the military isn’t the only ones who are interested in this kind of project and something else is going on, even though we don’t know at this point what and how all that is, but we’re working very hard to resolve it. So, there’s a couple of leapers and a couple of things going on, whether it’s a private enterprise or another government, but there’s a lot more going on that he suspected going into it.
MF: As the season goes on, will we explore Magic’s connections to Sam and the original series more?
EH: That’s the fun part of what I do on the show because in addition to trying to hold things down, I’m keeping the scientists working to hold the Quantum Leap, including Ziggy the machine that allows all this to happen, the computer. Now each episode Dr. Ben Song, played by Raymond Lee, he leaps into a different life, a different adventure. That’s what the show primarily is about. The original show, that was pretty much all it was about, but now we have the present day stuff of trying to hold this together and figure it out.
So there’s a lot of unsolved mysteries. In addition to my personal life and all that goes with it, but primarily it’s about, I think relationships, empathy, walking in someone else’s shoes, the result of choices and that other choices can change the world.
Raymond Lee as Dr. Ben Song in NBC’s ‘Quantum Leap.’ Photo by Ron Batzdorff/NBC. 2022 NBCUniversal Media, LLC.
MF: As you mentioned, the series is also different from the original because we see the team in present day working to get Ben back. Can you talk about that change to the structure of the franchise?
EH: We’re making obviously every effort we can to make this happen. I’d say he’s the lead scientist on it. But also I think one of the wonderful things for me is when we go back to a period like the 60’s, or the 40’s, now in this new iteration, we don’t have to leap within his lifespan, we can go further back. We get a chance to really take a look at things as they were at the time.
Normally, we look back and we like to put our own judgements on, “If I were living then, I would’ve done this, and they should have done that.” But it was a very different time. We get a chance to see that without our own judgements about right now. So to me, I find that really very interesting because things have changed in ways that it’s hard to even fathom until you really take a moment to look at it.
Moviefone: Can you talk about working with Raymond Lee and the rest of the cast?
EH: Raymond, of course he’s been around. He’s a wonderful actor. But I was really excited to be on the show. It’s hard to find the words to say this, but because of the charm that Scott Bakula has, I didn’t know who could replace it because a lot of the show was that. But when I met Raymond and saw him work, that’s when I really felt like, “Okay, this will work.” But Raymond Lee brings some of his own unique presence.
When I think of Raymond, I’m just really proud of him and the work that he’s doing on the show. But also Caitlin Bassett and Mason Alexander Park, it’s a great cast. It’s newer people, and I’ve been around for a long time, so they were all in the beginning, new to me. But the work is amazing and I’m just honored to get a chance to play with them.
MF: How much do you know about the season as a whole and the writers’ plans for the future of the series? Is it possible that Ben will return before season’s end, or will that take place over time like the original show?
EH: I don’t know a whole lot. I mean, in some ways that’s a good thing because playing a character who’s trying to figure it out and he’s confused, I’m just as confused as the character. So, it’s one of those things when I get the new script and I’m like, “Okay, so what happens? How did that end?” So, I’m right there with the audience and I know that we will figure it out, but how will we figure it out? Nobody is giving me any advanced warnings.
In a lot of ways I like that because I have to trust that it’ll all fall in place. But it’s a great writing team, show runners, and the executive producers are all great. So, I have total confidence, but I am as confused as anyone else.
(L to R) Nanrisa Lee as Jen, Ernie Hudson as Herbert “Magic” Williams, Mason Alexander Park as Ian Wright, and Caitlin Bassett as Addison Augustine in NBC’s ‘Quantum Leap.’ Photo by Ron Batzdorff/NBC. 2022 NBCUniversal Media, LLC.
MF: The first episode was dedicated to the late Dean Stockwell, and the episode includes mentions of Sam, Al, and Ziggy. Can you talk about the importance of embracing the history of the franchise, while still creating a new story and characters for this series?
EH: I think it’s really important. This is not a Reboot. This is not taking something and then trying to do it better or whatever. This is really a continuation. This is 30 years later in the future based on where we are and who we are. But it’s connected. I think it takes the basics of that, but we also bring in a modern day new element. Things that we know now we didn’t know then. Certainly technology, so all that is just moving the whole project forward.
For those fans who love the original, I think we’ve been really true to that. But also I think we’re in a different place. I think for a lot of the new fans, you don’t have to have watched the original show. But this is moving the whole thing forward. Donald P. Bellisario and Deborah Pratt who created and produced the original show, their executive producers on this.
So, I know they’re making sure it’s also tied into what we had, but not being limited by that. So, I’ve had some experiences, and I never like when they try to reboot. We’re not redoing something totally different, but doing our own unique thing, making our own impression, and really honoring what is there and what’s been established.
MF: What is it about the original series and the concept of ‘Quantum Leap’ that has become so beloved over the years and really is now part of American pop culture?
EH: I think it’s the idea. We talk a lot about “If you walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.” There’s a part of the human experience that wants to believe it knows. So, we make these quick judgements about people. We make these quick judgements about situations. If I were that person, I would’ve done this.
What I think the show does is, we actually are in someone else’s world, their life, their relationships, and we see the complications of that from a perspective that you can never see. I think now with so many things being divided, we like to think we know what’s going on, but I look at things sometimes. Had I been raised that way, had I been married to a bad person? It would’ve been different, the consequences, the choices, or that there are different consequences than what I personally would face.
MF: Fans were really excited to see you return to your Winston Zeddmore character in ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife.’ What was it like for you to put the uniform and the proton pack back on and work with Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd again?
EH: Well, we had talked about a new ‘Ghostbusters’ for 25 years. I had just given up. I thought, “Okay, it’s not going to happen. We did the video game, but we’ll never do the movie.” Then Paul Feig came in with ‘Ghostbusters: Answer the Call.’ I love Paul, I really liked the movie a lot and definitely have a lot of love for the ladies who starred in it. But it was a Reboot. I don’t like reboots, as we talked about earlier. But when Jason Reitman finally called and said they were moving forward with a ‘Ghostbusters’ that is an extension of the originals, that was really exciting.
But I still had that little like, “Is this really happening?” It wasn’t until I got on the set and I had my jumpsuit on, and I saw Bill and Danny all geared up with their backpacks. I thought, “Wow, this is it. It’s actually happening.” It was very moving for me. I didn’t tear up, but I came close to. It just brought back so much.
This movie is such an important part of my life. It had such a huge impact with the fan base for so many years that we were now doing this movie that I felt they have wanted for such a long time. So, seeing Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts, and it was a wonderful little script. There was some things I felt with Winston that Jason Reitman addressed in the film for me.
Then I just heard a couple days ago that Sony is looking at the new script. So, I know there’s a lot of plans for future iterations, and it’s turned into a really fun, exciting part of my career and in my life. I’m so thankful to be a part of that.
(L to R) Gil Kenan, Logan Kim, Ernie Hudson, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures EntertainmentTony Vinciquerra and Director Jason Reitman at Echo-Fest on the lot of Sony Pictures in celebration of Ghostbusters Day.
MF: So, we haven’t seen the end of Winston Zeddmore on the big screen? We could see him again in a future ‘Ghostbusters’ movie?
EH: I think so. I think he’s definitely tied into the whole ‘Ghostbusters’ world. He’s a businessman now who has this international corporation, but I’ll always be a Ghostbuster. So, I think as long as there are ‘Ghostbusters’ movies, and Winston can put on the backpack and the jumpsuit still fits, we’ll see Winston involved. We are in Hollywood, but I certainly would love to be a part of, and we’ll see how it unfolds.
MF: Finally, what was it like for you working with Jason Reitman on ‘Afterlife,’ having made the first two ‘Ghostbusters’ movies with his father, and do you have a memory of working with the late Ivan Reitman?
EH: We did the (original ‘Ghostbusters’) movie, and there were a lot of changes, especially in the very beginning. But over the years, we’ve really developed a friendship. I think we both grew and changed. Ivan early on wasn’t very touchy-feely but we had a chance to really connect. I just have so much love and respect for him, and I realized the impact that he had on my life with this movie. I also did another movie with him called
‘Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone.’
Jason, who was six-years-old when we did the original movie was always hanging around on the set. He was in the second movie, and grew up to be such a talented filmmaker. When I heard that he was taking over the helm, I was like, “Okay, we’re good.” I was really excited.
With Ivan, when I first met him, he had done so many amazing movies and I had so much respect for him. So, you want to work and bring your best because he demands that. But with Jason, I can’t imagine anybody who doesn’t love Jason. You know what I mean? So, you bring your best because you really wanted to succeed and he feels like family
There’s some relationships in this business that you really value and you hold onto to. Ivan was one of them. There are people who you can really connect to and say, “Okay, this person really had an impact in shaping, not only my career, but who I am as a person.” Ivan is one of those people.
(L to R) Jason Reitman and Ivan Reitman at Premiere of ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife.’ Photo Courtesy of Reuters.
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Tom Cruise plays Capt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ from Paramount Pictures, Skydance and Jerry Bruckheimer Films.
According to Wikipedia, a legacy sequel is a movie that follows the continuity of the original movie, but takes place further along the timeline, often focusing on new characters with the original ones still present in the plot.
With ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ and ‘Jurassic World Dominion’ currently killing it at the box office, now is a good time to countdown the top ten best legacy sequels ever made.
New CIA operative Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner) experiences life-or-death stakes that have been triggered by the previous actions of Jason Bourne (Matt Damon).
Jamie Lee Curtis returns to her iconic role as Laurie Strode, who comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers (James Jude Courtney), the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.
Former pool hustler “Fast Eddie” Felson (Paul Newman) decides he wants to return to the game by taking a pupil. He meets talented but green Vincent Lauria (Tom Cruise) and proposes a partnership. As they tour pool halls, Eddie teaches Vincent the tricks of scamming, but he eventually grows frustrated with Vincent’s showboat antics, leading to an argument and a falling-out. Eddie takes up playing again and soon crosses paths with Vincent as an opponent.
The brash James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) tries to live up to his father’s (Chris Hemsworth) legacy with Mr. Spock (Zachary Quinto) keeping him in check as a vengeful Romulan (Eric Bana) from the future creates black holes to destroy the Federation one planet at a time, seeking revenge against a future version of Ambassador Spock (Leonard Nimoy).
The former World Heavyweight Champion Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) serves as a trainer and mentor to Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan), the son of his late friend and former rival Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers).
Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), the tech-savvy and daring son of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), investigates his father’s disappearance and is pulled into The Grid. With the help of a mysterious program named Quorra (Olivia Wilde), Sam quests to stop evil dictator Clu (also Jeff Bridges) from crossing into the real world.
Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling), unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos. K’s discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years.
After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him.
When he finds himself training a detachment of TOPGUN graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller), call sign: “Rooster,” the son of Maverick’s late friend and Radar Intercept Officer Lt. Nick Bradshaw, aka “Goose.”
Facing an uncertain future and confronting the ghosts of his past, Maverick is drawn into a confrontation with his own deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who will be chosen to fly it.
(L to R) Gil Kenan, Logan Kim, Ernie Hudson, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures EntertainmentTony Vinciquerra and Director Jason Reitman at Echo-Fest on the lot of Sony Pictures in celebration of Ghostbusters Day.
There was a lot of talk a few years ago – around the time that Paul Feig’s ‘Ghostbusters’ was about to come out – about a big new universe being built around the idea of spook chasing. Visions of a Marvel-style connected series of stories (a GBCU?) danced in Sony’s heads, but back then it was not to be.
Now, though, given the success of ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ last year, it appears that the traps have been sprung, the containment facility breached, and all manner of ghostly goings-on are in the works, with a day – the same day the original 1984 ‘Ghostbusters’ was released, calendar fans – dedicated to announcements about the future of the franchise.
First and foremost was word that Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan, who co-wrote ‘Afterlife’ (which Reitman also directed) are busy on the script for the sequel. Little was revealed about it other than it promises to chronicle “the next chapter in the Spengler family.” That points to the return of Phoebe (McKenna Grace), Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and their family for more ghost hunting.
And the movie’s codename, “Firehouse” confirms (as with the shot of Ecto-1 driving into the city at the end of ‘Afterlife’ plus Ernie Hudson’s Winston Zeddemore re-opening the original base of operations) that the new movie returns to the familiar environs of New York.
Ernie Hudson at Echo-Fest on the lot of Sony Pictures in celebration of Ghostbusters Day.
We also learned that Dark Horse has plans to publish a ‘Ghostbusters’ comic series that will bridge the gap between ‘Afterlife’ and the upcoming sequel.
Reitman and Kenan have also been developing an animated movie based on the concept, though didn’t expand on what that might focus on. Could Feig’s gang finally get their due again on screen? Or is this a whole new team? Either way, the pair is busy with the ‘Afterlife’ sequel, so the actual creative duties are being handled by co-directors Chris Prynoski and Jennifer Kluska and writer Brenda Hsueh.
And that’s not all! There is also a plan for a new ‘Ghostbusters’ animated sequel, an interesting development, since the original characters already came to TV twice at least, via ‘The Real Ghostbusters’ and then ‘Extreme Ghostbusters’. This new show is at a very early stage so far, with no writer attached to oversee it just yet. Still, despite their packed schedule, Reitman and Kenan will also have a hand in that.
There was also an emotional moment as Ivan Reitman Way – dedicated to Jason’s late father, the man who produced and directed the first two ‘Ghostbusters’ films – was unveiled on the Sony Pictures lot in Culver City, along with the announcement of a virtual reality training simulator called ‘Ghostbusters VR Academy’ that will be cropping up in locations around the country.
It’s clearly a good time to be a ‘Ghostbusters’ fan, and Sony will no doubt be hoping that we’re gonna know who to call for years to come.
(L to R) Gil Kenan, Director Jason Reitman, and Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment Tony Vinciquerra at Echo-Fest on the lot of Sony Pictures in celebration of Ghostbusters Day.Echo-Fest on the lot of Sony Pictures in celebration of Ghostbusters Day.Echo-Fest on the lot of Sony Pictures in celebration of Ghostbusters Day.
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Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio “Bad Bunny.” Photo courtesy of Facebook.
Sony unsurprisingly went Spider-heavy in its presentation at this year’s CinemaCon event in Las Vegas, announcing one brand new project and offering updates on others.
The biggest news was that Latin-Grammy winning and platinum-selling artist Bad Bunny – AKA Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio – will be playing ‘Spider-Man’ character ‘El Muerto‘ in a new movie.
El Muerto debuted in a 2006 issue of ‘Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’, written by Peter David, and illustrated by Roger Cruz. The character, real name Juan Carlos, was a super powered wrestler who originally fought Spider-Man in a charity wrestling match where he nearly unmasked the hero before being stung by Spider-Man, with a paralyzing poison. After being saved from the hospital by the web-spinner when Muerto’s oppressor El Dorado came to claim the wrestler’s life, the two would team up to defeat Dorado.
Whether that story will make it to screens remains to be seen – our guess would be more towards an origin story for El Muerto, and, given the recent run of Spider-adjacent films, it’s unlikely that the web-slinger will be present.
Bunny apparently pursued the chance to play the character, and this would be the first leading Latino superhero in the Sony Marvel movie universe. It’s another step for the studio following its first leading female character thanks to Dakota Johnson in ‘Madame Web’.
Photo courtesy of Marvel Entertainment.
The musician’s most recent role was in incoming action thriller ‘Bullet Train’ (more on that below), and Sony has apparently been impressed by his performance there, moving quickly to put ‘El Muerto’ into motion to accommodate his musical and promotional schedule.
In other tangential Spider-talk, Sony is planning more ‘Venom’ chaos, with a third film announced to bring back Tom Hardy’s shmuck journo/alien symbiote double-act.
The first movie had 40 characters, and the sequel has 240. The first movie took place in one universe, and the sequel takes place in six universes (so far). They also mentioned that the second ‘Spider-Verse’ sequel is now known as ‘Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse’, itself due in 2024.
It wasn’t all Spider-news, though, as the studio recruited director David Leitch to show off the first reel of Brad Pitt-starring assassin thriller ‘Bullet Train’, which features Leitch’s trademark frenetic action mixed with a darkly comic side.
Brad Pitt in Sony Pictures’ ‘Bullet Train.’
Viola Davis took the stage to show the trailer for her new movie, ‘The Woman King’, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. The movie, written by the director and Dana Stevens, is an historical epic inspired by true events that took place in the Kingdom of Dahomey, one of the most powerful states of Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The story follows Nanisca (Davis), general of the all-female military unit, and Nawi (‘The Underground Railroad’s Thuso Mbedu), an ambitious recruit, who together fought enemies who violated their honor, enslaved their people and threatened to destroy everything they’ve lived for.
The likes of Lashana Lynch and John Boyega are in the cast for the movie, which will be out in the fall.
