Columbia Pictures/Archive Photos/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — As you wait for Labor Day weekend to arrive, you can celebrate another “holiday”: National Ghostbusters Day.
Sony Pictures Entertainment has deemed Thursday to be National Ghostbusters Day in honor of the 30th anniversary of the original film in the series, which debuted on June 8, 1984. To mark the occasion, a remastered version of Ghostbusters will be released in more than 700 theaters in North America for a limited run, beginning Friday.
The classic comedy, directed by Ivan Reitman, starred Bill Murray, Dan Akyroyd, and the late Harold Ramis as, respectively, Dr. Peter Venkman, Dr. Raymond Stantz, and Dr. Egon Spengler — a trio of parapsychologists-turned-professional ghost exterminators.
Ernie Hudson was also featured in the film as the group’s fourth member, Winston Zeddemore. In an interview with ABC News Radio, he explained why he thinks the popularity of Ghostbusters has endured.
Hudson commented, “It deals with something, I think, that’s very primal in all of us. The fear of what’s on the other side…we hear these stories about the end of the world and, you know, the god appearing. And in the movie, that’s what happens and so we take them in a very realistic way and yet we laugh about them.”
Hudson believes Ghostbusters came at the right time, because movie studios wouldn’t be as receptive to such a story nowadays. He says, “I think Hollywood does not respond to really creative material. I think they’re looking to make money, and when money becomes the bottom line you end up with what we are getting now, which is a bunch of movies that aren’t story-driven or character-driven.”
There’s been much talk about a third Ghostbusters movie, but unfortunately it won’t involve Ramis, who passed away in February. Hudson says he’s “very thankful” to have had the opportunity to work with Ramis, who co-wrote the original film and its 1989 sequel with Aykroyd.
Hudson is open to participating in a new Ghostbusters sequel. He tells ABC News Radio, “The last conversation I had with Bill Murray, he said he’d love to do it but he wants it to be good. But, you know, that’s not why I determine what I do. I’m a working actor, so you know what? They have a job and they are offering it and if it’s interesting, yeah, I’d sign up.”
In another nod to Ghostbusters’ milestone, anniversary editions of both films in the series — as well as a limited edition gift set — will be released on Blu-ray on Sept. 16.
Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio
