1923 star Harrison Ford explains how filming the Yellowstone prequel differs from filming Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies. An acclaimed Hollywood star, Ford rose to international prominence for his role as Han Solo in 1977's Star Wars: A New Hope, which was followed soon after by his 1981 turn in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Ford went on to star in both major franchises, which continued for decades, with Ford's last appearance as Han coming in the form of a brief cameo in 2019's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and his final foray as the titular Indiana Jones coming with the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Now that both franchises are nearly behind him, Ford has branched out into a leading role on the television series 1923, a prequel to Taylor Sheridan's neo-Western mega-hit Yellowstone.
While speaking with Collider, Ford explains how filming the TV show 1923 differed from shooting movies in his previous franchises, stating that there was little difference in terms of scale or ambition between the projects besides having more time in the television medium to flesh out the character. However, Ford states that "there's a sense of reality" that comes with filming on a more practical, outdoor set versus the "sets that have to be manufactured" in more fantastical films such as Star Wars or Indiana Jones. Ford's comments indicate that it was easier to get into character on set of 1923 since he was much closer to his character Jacob Dutton's day-to-day reality while filming. See what Ford had to say about the experience below:
"For me, for an actor, there's not much difference between shooting for television and shooting for a feature film. There may be actually more time to develop a character over a number of different episodes than you have in a two-hour film. But it really is the only difference really these days, I believe. We used to think of television as having less ambition, perhaps, than feature films. It's no longer the case at all. This is one of the most ambitious undertakings I've ever taken on, and I'm so pleased with what I've seen so far. Because we're in post-production on much of it, but we have the first couple of episodes locked, and I'm delighted by what I see. I've been enjoying working with very high-quality actors and actresses, and we have the technical capacity and ambition to shoot this the way it was a feature film. It's quite beautiful to look at. I'm thrilled with the whole project. As to how it compares with Star Wars or Indiana Jones, we're spending a lot more time outdoors in real places, rather than on sets that have to be manufactured to create a reality. So there's a sense of reality there. The minute you walk out into that cold in your 1923 costume, you begin to understand what the real life of a cowboy is like."
How 1923 Differs From Ford's Other Projects
Though Ford has taken the lead in several franchises over the decades, 1923 marks his first starring role in a major television production. The actor has been involved with many historical and dramatic works during the course of his career, even playing a cowboy previously in 2011's Cowboys & Aliens. In addition, Indiana Jones and Star Wars have Western influences, but 1923 will mark Ford's longest commitment to a project firmly in the neo-Western genre.
Ford's Comments Are Promising For 1923
Ford's words of praise for 1923 confirm that the much-anticipated Yellowstone prequel will be well worth the wait. Since Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone debuted in 2018, the series has garnered massive success into its fifth season and spawned several spinoffs, including the Duttons' origin story 1883. 1923 in particular has many elements to balance with the numerous plot points it has to contend with due to its setting as well as the introduction of many new members of the family, some of whom may even solve some mysteries waiting to be unraveled in the present-day Yellowstone.
With the multiple spinoff series in the works from Sheridan's crew as he works to extend the Yellowstone universe even further, it's worth wondering whether a film would be a more efficient medium to tell some of the Dutton family's stories, but Ford's comments confirm that the franchise is headed in a strong direction with its focus on character development. This is crucial since 1923 could reportedly mark the darkest chapter in the Duttons' family history yet, and it will be essential for viewers to connect with the characters in order to remain invested in their actions throughout the show, which creators have indicated is planned for two-season run. With the immersive practical sets described by Ford and his talents as well as those of his co-stars, which include Helen Mirren, 1923 is set up for success when it premieres December 18.
Source: Collider