Beloved “Ghostbusters” actor Ernie Hudson indicates he’d be game to return as the character of Monroe Kelly in a sequel to Frank Marshall’s 1995 film adaptation of Michael Crichton’s novel “Congo”.
Adapted by John Patrick Shanley, the original film starred Hudson along with Laura Linney, Tim Curry, Dylan Walsh, Bruce Campbell, Delroy Lindo, Grant Heslov, Joe Pantoliano, John Hawkes, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Joe Don Baker.
It followed a communications conglomerate-backed expedition into the African jungle try to find a missing team of diamond hunters. They soon discover the ruins of an ancient civilization a race of intelligent, vicious and lethal gray gorillas.
Speaking with ComicBook.com recently, Hudson was asked which character from his career he’d most like to revisit. He said his role in “Congo” and explains why:
“Well, the character in Congo, I just had a lot of fun with the character, and, unfortunately, the studio … I don’t know. It did well at the box office, but I’d love to do that character [again]. It probably won’t happen, but I’d love to recreate that character or revisit that character, revisit that scenario, once again, in a different part of the world, but more of an adventure. I’d like to do an adventure film, so that character I’d love to see again… Yeah, probably Congo would be the one that I’d love to do, certainly not just substitute. There are a few that I don’t think I’d want to revisit, but Congo, I think I would.”
Hudson provides personal video messages to his fans, via the Cameo system, and says he’s consistently asked to do videos in character as Kelly and adds that people tell him it is their favorite movie.
The killer ape film wasn’t well received critically but managed to earn an impressive $152 million worldwide off a $50 million budget – and had strong home video sales as well.
