Acting legend Ernie Hudson discusses voicing Marlon in Angry Birds Mystery Island, as well as his other iconic roles, in this interview.
Angry Birds Mystery Island showcases the adventures of three hatchlings, Buddy, Mia, Rosie, and piglet Hamylton after they’re catapulted to a mysterious island. Surrounded by a vast amount of litter and threatened by strange cultures, the group must learn to work together.
We spoke with Ernie Hudson about his latest role as Maron on Angry Birds Mystery Island. He also discusses the importance of family entertainment and which of his other characters he would like to see cameo in this world.
Ernie Hudson On The Importance Of Family Entertainment
Tessa Smith: You are an acting legend. I feel like you can do anything you want. So what was it about Angry Birds that made you want to be a part of it?
Ernie Hudson: Well, to be an Angry Bird is very, very cool. I mean, aside from the title and the series, it’s just an Angry Bird, period. It just sounds like fun to me. But yeah, I’d heard of, obviously, the game, and then when I read the script of the episode that I’m doing, I love Marlon. He kind of reminded me of so many dysfunctional people that I know, and maybe even myself. I just loved it. I wanted to be a part of it. I wasn’t reluctant in any way. I just was like, yeah, sign me up. I’m here. And it was fun.
Tessa Smith: Can you talk about the importance of working on projects that the whole family can enjoy?
Ernie Hudson: That’s why I love this show. I’m just going to say what I think. It’s kind of a throwback in a lot of ways. Some of the shows that used to do that, there’s a moral compass there. There’s stories that we can discuss. I’ve been very fortunate over the years, Quantum Leap was sort of that way, trying to get some theme that we can get a different perspective on.
To me, it’s really about family. I have four sons, I have grandkids, I have great grandkids. I do find a lot of things very, very difficult to come together on and want to share. You know what I’m saying? Sit down. We’re going to watch this. Somebody told me to watch it, and then actually have a discussion afterward. So I love this show for that reason. It’s not one of those wacky things that as a parent, I’m kind of going, why am I [watching this?]
One of the things I love about this show is it’s a little bit different. And for me, it just keeps in the theme of the Ghostbusters of the universe, of stuff that bridges that generation gap. The grandparents can actually find something enjoyable about it. As well as the grandkids, and not feeling forced to have to sit through it.
Ernie Hudson Would Love To See These Characters Cameo On Angry Birds Mystery Island
Tessa Smith: Is there a character that you’ve done that you think would be fun to have cameo in the Angry Birds world?
Ernie Hudson: I’d love to see Winston slip into the angry bird world. Maybe Slimer. They’re on a little Island. It’d be great to have Slimer or the marshmallow man pop up. I remember doing Congo and I always loved that character Monroe Kelly, the safari guy. It’d be great to see him pop up someplace.
I’m always open to a new adventure for me. That’s what this is It’s what for me, Angry Birds, all this stuff is that I get a chance to have a new adventure every time I work. They’re not necessarily related. I don’t know any other profession I could have gone into that would have allowed me not just to step into it, but now I have to really take my mind and imagine if I lived in the angry birds world. And if this universe existed, how do I play? And that’s that’s what I love about it.
Be sure to watch our full interview with Ernie Hudson to hear more about his return to Ghostbusters, working in theater, and more.
About Angry Birds Mystery Island
Based on Rovio’s popular game Angry Birds, Angry Birds Mystery Island introduces three new Hatchling characters—”Mia,” “Rosie,” and “Buddy”—and a foreign-exchange piglet named “Hamylton” who are mistakenly catapulted onto an uncharted island. The ragtag bunch quickly learns that, in order to survive and make it back home, they will need to unlock the mysteries of the island together.
Angry Birds Mystery Island Part 1 & 2 is out now on Amazon Kids+ and Prime Video. Part 3 debuts December 3.
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Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.