Harrison Ford on why he joined the MCU

Harrison Ford on why he joined the MCU

“Look, I’ve done a lot of things. I now want to do some of the things I haven’t done”

Harrison Ford’s reported casting in Marvel Studios’ Captain America: New World Order as a recast Thunderbolt Ross made tons of headlines in the past months, and he’s finally addressed his upcoming MCU debut. 

In September, Ford was reportedly tapped to replace the late William Hurt to portray the MCU’s Thunderbolt Ross in 2024’s Captain America 4. 

While the exact plot details of the Anthony Mackie-led solo film are still shrouded in secrecy, another rumor unveiled that Ross is building his own “new world order” in the movie, pitting him against the titular Star-Spangled Avenger. 

Marvel Studios producer Nate Moore eventually confirmed Ford’s involvement in the upcoming MCU flick, teasing that “[they] couldn’t be more excited” and that his scenes with Mackie will be”fantastic.”

Speaking with The Playlist, Star Wars veteran Harrison Ford broke his silence on joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Thunderbolt Ross. 

When asked why he was interested in joining the ever-popular superhero franchise, Ford admitted that he simply now “wants to do some of the things I haven’t done:”

The Playlist: “What was the interest on your part for [joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe]?”

Ford: “Hey, look, I’ve done a lot of things. I now want to do some of the things I haven’t done.”

The Playlist then inquired if he will be gearing up in a motion-capture suit to film scenes as Red Hulk (which Thunderbolt Ross becomes in the comics), to which Ford shared a non-verbal coy response: 

The Playlist: “Are you going to be doing the mo-cap stuff and everything [for Red Hulk]?”

Harrison Ford’s latest comments suggest that he’s excited to be part of the MCU, which makes sense considering that it’s a different kind of opportunity for him. 

Given that his stint as Indiana Jones already required him to take on stunts and action sequences through the years, Ford’s remarks about doing “some of the things” that he hasn’t done could indicate that he’s going all-out in the CGI department this time around. 

Although he was tight-lipped about being involved in a mo-cap suit and a possible Red Hulk transformation, the actor’s non-verbal coy response suggests that he is simply avoiding spoilers. spinoff and its ties to the greater “Yellowstone” universe, and afterward, cast members Harrison Ford, James Badge Dale & Marley Shelton stop by to chat about becoming a part of this amazing multi-generation-spanning story that creator Sheridan is bringing to life. As to why everyone seems to be jumping on board the “Yellowstone” train, Ford suggests the answer is fairly straightforward, despite himself saying in past interviews that he was unlikely to make the jump to television.

“To me, the quality of the work that they’ve been doing there is evident,” Ford said of joining the “Yellowstone” universe. “So, my ambition to be part of that doesn’t seem to be, to me, too much of a stretch. We assume there’s this big difference between television and films. It’s really just the destination for it [that’s different]. There are great opportunities to tell complicated and ambitious stories on television, but it’s just where you show it. This has got very high-quality cinematography. This would play very well in a movie theater. But Taylor thinks of these things, not as television, but he thinks of them as one-hour movies, and we’re going to make eight or ten of them. So, there’s very high ambitions and standards.”

“We are placed in a time in history when Jacob’s way of life is being challenged by oncoming modernity,” Ford said. “Electricity is coming to homes, the streets are clogged with horseless vehicles – automobiles, and it’s a little disorienting to Jacob to watch the changes in his culture, and he’s afraid to lose that way of life. The family has built a way of life with resolve and sacrifice, and sweat, and now it’s being challenged. There’s a drought. There’s competition for the grass from shepherds. There’s economic pressure from the banks, which are now finding that many of their loans to ranchers are defaulted on. Times are hard.”

As for James Badge Dale and Marley Shelton, viewers might assume their characters of John Dutton Sr. and Emma Dutton might be the grandparents of Kevin Costner’s John Dutton, but I wouldn’t be so sure just yet. Marley Shelton was eager to dispel such assumptions, as even they apparently don’t know how their characters relate to John Dutton.

“What’s funny about that is that it has still not been revealed to us whether we are Grandma and Grandpa [to John Dutton] or Great Aunt and Uncle – this is still up for [debate]. We don’t know,” Shelton shared.

Of course, Marvel fans have recently been celebrating Harrison Ford joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ford will be taking over the role of General “Thunderbolt” Ross, who was previously played by the late William Hurt. The actor passed away earlier this year. Many assumed Ford wouldn’t be interested in joining the MCU; however, to Ford, the answer as to why he would is simple.

“Hey, look, I’ve done a lot of things. I now want to do some of the things I haven’t done,” Ford said.

One might assume those “things he hasn’t done” include motion capture, as the character does eventually become the Red Hulk. Our host, Mike DeAngelo, asked if Ford was going to be putting on the grey motion capture suit for such things. Ever the professional, Ford simply smiled and replied with a “zipped-lips” sign. Can we call that a confirmation, Mr. Ford?