Billy Crystal on the role of the character from “When Harry Met Sally” at the 2024 Emmys

Billy Crystal is sure that Harry and Sally would “still be in love” today.

In honor of the 35th anniversary of the release of his successful romantic comedy Harry and SallyCrystal, 76, spoke about an imaginary future for his and Meg Ryan's iconic characters.

“They would talk about staff cuts. They are not ready for assisted living,” the moderator joked to E! Live from the Red Carpet Host Laverne Cox at the Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, September 15. “But they're still romantic, still in love.”

Directed by Rob Reiner, screenplay by Nora Ephron. Harry and Sally Premiered on July 14, 1989. Crystal and Ryan, 62, played the title characters whose friendship and romantic feelings intertwine throughout their adult lives. Of course, the two are together by the end of the film – and Crystal says it would still “remain romantic” 35 years later.

“They're probably having a great time with their grandchildren and finding new ways to get along,” he said with a smile.

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Commenting on the classic's continued relevance over this period, the actor added: “It's extraordinary to be part of an evergreen. [movie] after all these years: young people discover it, calls from film schools and 22-year-olds discover the film, 21-year-olds come to talk to them about it.”

New viewers keep discovering the film, Crystal said, because of the “great direction” of Reiner and the “brilliant screenplay” by Ephron, who died in 2012 at age 71. He also praised his co-stars Ryan, the late Carrie Fisher and the late Bruno Kirby, saying, “It was a small but powerful group.”

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Harry and Sally was one of 25 films to be inducted into the National Film Registry in 2022. Last December, Crystal honored Ryan when he received his award at the 46th Kennedy Center Honors. “We were brought together by [Reiner and Ephron]chosen to be that couple, and who knows – almost 35 years later, we're still a couple to everyone,” he told PEOPLE at the time.

“As you move forward and new generations see this film and feel it and watch it over and over again, on Valentine's Day, on New Year's Eve, whenever,” he added. “You know, every day people fall in love and every day people fall out of love.”

Crystal attended the Emmys ahead of the release of his latest TV project, Before, in which he plays a widowed child psychologist. The series premieres on Apple TV+ on October 25th.

Watch PEOPLE's full coverage of the 76th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, broadcast live from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on ABC.