“Don’t you get it?”: Why Harrison Ford will never let anyone else play Indiana Jones
Imagine waking up every morning and remembering that you’re Harrison Ford. Not only do you have more money than any normal person would know what to do with it, but you’re also one of the most idolised actors of all time. In many ways, Ford is Hollywood distilled: a handsome, charming, talented actor with some of the best scenes and catchphrases in movie history to his name. Honestly, it’s disgusting how cool he is.
In terms of roles, Ford has iconic ones coming out of his ears. Is Richard Kimble in The Fugitive not enough for you? Try Rick Deckard in Blade Runner. If you don’t like his portrayal of the President of the United States in Air Force One, then why not give Captain America: Brave New World a shot? All of this without mentioning his two most famous characters: Han Solo in the Star Wars series and the whip-cracking, womanising archaeologist man of action, Indiana Jones.
Ford wasn’t the first choice for the part of Jones, but he went on to make the character his own. From the dizzying highs of The Last Crusade – where he forms an incredible comic relationship with Sean Connery – to the nauseating lows of The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull—aliens? Really?—the actor has been on a wild ride under that iconic hat. No wonder he’s protective over the role.
Appearing on The Today Show in 2019, the legend discussed the future of the franchise four years before the release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. There had been speculation for years that a new actor was going to come along and take over the character, but Ford shut those rumours down in brutal fashion. “Nobody is going to be Indiana Jones. Don’t you get it? I’m Indiana Jones,” he said. “When I’m gone, he’s gone. It’s easy. This is a hell of a way to tell Chris Pine. I’m sorry, man.”
You might think that Pine was in the running for the role, given Ford’s comments, but he was never publicly linked to taking over the franchise. There’s every chance that Ford got him confused with Chris Pratt, who was once rumoured to lead a reboot of the series. There’s also the possibility that he was just saying the first name that came into his head, which seems to be a tactic he employs regularly during interviews.
In the end, Ford got his way. For 2023’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, the 81-year-old embarked on a new adventure featuring Nazis, Archimedes, and time travel. It was absolutely abysmal, a dismal farewell to one of cinema’s great heroes. Maybe he should have let Chris Pine have a go after all. Interestingly, Dial of Destiny seems to have set up Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Helena Shaw as a potential new lead protagonist. However, considering that the film absolutely tanked at the box office, maybe Disney will change tact if they decide to revisit the series.
His answer might have come across as majorly egotistical, but Ford’s response isn’t without substance. Just try to imagine an Indy movie without Ford involved, and you realise just how much of that series’ success is tied to him. He is Indiana Jones, no doubt about it, through the good stuff and the bad.
