It’s not every day you hear Hollywood giants like Harrison Ford criticise their own work, but that’s exactly what happened at Comic-Con recently. The 82-year-old actor spoke candidly about his experience playing Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Captain America: Brave New World.
Harrison Ford opened up to Variety about what it was like taking on a role previously played by the late William Hurt. Aside from stepping into Hurt’s shoes, Ford also tackled the demanding motion capture process involved in bringing his character to life. This character will also transform into the Red Hulk.
When asked about the challenges of performing motion capture, Ford’s response was unexpectedly blunt. ‘What did it take? It took not caring,’ said Ford, renowned for his iconic roles as Indiana Jones and Han Solo. ‘It took being an idiot for money, which I’ve done before.’ Ford wasn’t entirely downbeat during the interview; he clarified that he had a great time making the movie, explaining, ‘You have to do certain things that normally your mother would not want you to do — or your acting coach, if you had one. But it’s fun, and I enjoyed it.’
The highly-anticipated Captain America 4 film will see Ford’s character as the U.S. president, which is a significant shift from his previous roles. Not only will he play the president, but his character will also transform into the Red Hulk at some point. Ford expressed delight over the positive reception to the recently released trailer at San Diego Comic-Con. ‘I’m delighted at the response that we got with the trailer,’ he said.
Adding to the buzz, Ford’s co-star Anthony Mackie, who portrays Captain America/Sam Wilson in the movie, praised the veteran actor. Speaking to Inverse last year, Mackie noted Ford’s aura and approachability. ‘He’s Harrison f***ing Ford,’ Mackie exclaimed, adding that Ford is ‘everything a movie star should be.’ He also shared a humorous anecdote about Ford’s on-set enthusiasm: ‘He would say,
and everybody was like,
Ford’s reflections at Comic-Con also highlighted his comparisons between the MCU and other major film franchises he’s been a part of. ‘It’s a whole different cut of cloth, isn’t it? Free of some normal constraints to the imagination. It’s delightful to deal with and it’s fun,’ he shared.
Ford couldn’t help but praise his co-workers and the overall filming experience. ‘The people I worked with were fantastic,’ he said, particularly complimenting the director Julius Onah and co-star Anthony Mackie. ‘We had a good time. I enjoyed it.’
Ford humorously admitted feeling out of place when asked about the MCU’s Earth-616 timeline. ‘616? I am in universe 616? I am out of my orbit!’ he exclaimed, adding a light-hearted touch to the discussion.
Captain America: Brave New World is set to hit theatres on February 12, 2025. Fans are eagerly counting down the days to see Ford’s unique take on such a beloved character.
Harrison Ford’s comments may have been surprising, but they don’t overshadow the excitement surrounding Captain America: Brave New World. His candidness adds another layer to his legendary career, and fans can’t wait to see him in action once more.
