Actor Harrison Ford is well-known for his work as Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones, Jr. in the Indiana Jones franchise. The first four films, created by filmmaker George Lucas, were released between 1981 to 2008. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the films were a massive hit and the franchise quickly became a fan-favorite.
While Ford may seem like the perfect actor for this role, Lucas was initially against his casting because of this one rule that Lucas follows. It is well-known that Lucas doesn’t hire actors he has hired before, so even in the Star Wars franchise, Lucas was against his casting. Ford knew about this rule so he was sure that Lucas would once again oppose his casting in the Indiana Jones franchise.
Harrison Ford was unsure about getting a role in the Indiana Jones franchise
In 1982, actor Harrison Ford appeared on Late Show with David Letterman and revealed that he was sure filmmaker George Lucas would oppose his casting in the Indiana Jones franchise. The actor was then asked if he felt odd that he was not the first choice and he replied,
“No, it wouldn’t have occurred to me. I didn’t even know about the project, I didn’t know Spielberg and it didn’t occur to me that that I would have a chance of doing it.”
Lucas had a rule that he wouldn’t cast an actor he had worked with in the past. Since Harrison worked with Lucas in 1973’s American Graffiti, he was sure he would get rejected.
George Lucas had to make an exception
Despite working with Harrison Ford in the past, Lucas had to cast him as Han Solo in 1977’s Star Wars. Ford recalled the casting,
“I was real surprised when it happened. I don’t think he saw me for Star Wars until he’d seen every other living actor between the ages of 7 and 35, and then he asked me and I tested, like everybody else… agreed to the conditions… and things turned out pretty well.”
Ford played the role of Han Solo in Star Wars (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Return of the Jedi (1983), and then again 32 years later in The Force Awakens (2015) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). Ford’s audition and screen test for the role impressed Lucas so he had to make an exception.
Harrison Ford is a legend
Today, Ford is widely considered a Hollywood legend, thanks to his memorable performances in blockbuster franchises like Blade Runner, Indiana Jones, and Star Wars. Sources have confirmed that Ford is also ready to make his MCU debut in the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World.
Even after so many decades, he has consistently delivered outstanding acting performances. The actor has showcased his versatility and talent in a variety of genres, leaving a lasting impact, and becoming an icon in the entertainment industry.
Source: Late Show with David Letterman
