25 Things You Didn't Know About Ghostbusters
7. Winston Originally Had A MUCH Bigger Role
No matter how you slice it, Winston always felt like a spare
part in the Ghostbusters team, a third - or rather fourth - wheel. And although
we have all grown to love and appreciate him in the years that passed, it's
true that he's portrayed on a different level to his co-workers.
During the early days of the project, Winston played a much bigger part in the story. Instead of joining the team late, Winston - then known as Ramsey - was a founding member, bringing with him years of service in the Air Force and a history as a demolition’s expert. He would also be responsible for conjuring up Gozer, was slimed by Slimer and, as a black belt in Wing Chun, would act as team security.
Later drafts of the script would determine that the character had too many great lines and moments, and so many of these were shifted over to Peter, significantly watering down Winston by the time shooting came around.