Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone have dominated the industry for decades being action stars. Appearing in almost every movie as an action star has made the actors hard to dissociate from the action genre. Remarkably, they have created a legacy and will be remembered as action megastars forever.
Also, the physique of Schwarzenegger and Stallone are built for action roles, as Hollywood filmmakers and producers see it. Even today, these actors are solely action movies and shows oriented. However, Schwarzenegger claimed that there is a story struggle behind his and Stallone’s action careers.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Said Steven Spielberg Saved Harrison Ford from being Typecast
Blessings from Steven Spielberg would be any actor’s Hollywood dream. The director has successfully ruled the industry with numerous hits and critically acclaimed movies. Arnold Schwarzenegger believes Spielberg saved Harrison Ford from being Typecast in the industry.
Schwarzenegger had very little space to explore multiple genres, especially those devoid of action and followed by an instance drama similar to his fellow action star Sylvester Stallone. Despite making a legendary career out of the action genre, Schwarzenegger felt the curse of being typecast and the urge to go beyond it.
“Everyone gave me the same type of a script. Action, heroic, kick-ass — one script would be 78 kills and the other would be maybe 54 kills, but it was all the same kind of thing. It was often ripping off the shirt and showing the muscles to make sure that they understand that yeah, I am the real true action hero,” Schwarzenegger once told Buzzfeed.
Shaping his career by playing iconic characters like Han Solo in Star Wars and Indiana Jones, Ford has escaped the fate of Schwarzenegger and Stallone. “Some people are blessed,” Schwarzenegger said once referring to the Indiana Jones franchise star. He also said that Ford was blessed to have the guidance of Spielberg as he was never promoted as an action star despite his multiple action movies.
“Harrison Ford was doing great action movies but was never promoted as an action star because the director [Steven Spielberg] was the star…So, Harrison Ford was celebrated as an action guy but never typecast as an action guy.”
Schwarzenegger is still doing action movies even at the age of 75 but his career sometimes reminds him of being trapped in the genre.
How Harrison Ford Avoided Being Typecast as an Action Star?
Most of Ford’s career-defining movies have charismatic actions and fall under the genre as well. Apart from Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises, the actor has played action heroes in The Fugitive, Patriot Games, K-19: The Widowmaker, and of course, Force 10 from Navarone. However, he often ventures out to play different roles as well. He appeared in the 2015 romance fantasy The Age of Adaline, Sports drama 42, and even wildly horror What Lies Beneath.
Ford revealed that the direction of his career and choice of movies has somehow helped the actor to dodge the bullet of being typecast as an action hero like Schwarzenegger and Stallone.
“I’ve always been aware of the potential to be trapped in the action genre, because of the commercial success of the first films that I did. But if you look carefully, you will see that I made every effort from the very beginning of my career to vary the kinds of genres and roles – to not only do that kind of film,” the Blade Runner actor said.
Schwarzenegger recently appeared in the Netflix action series FUBAR while Ford is set to appear in MCU’s 2024 release Captain America: New World Order and Thunderbolts.
Source: Showbiz CheatSheet.
