Harrison Ford is one of the most recognizable actors working today, and he's responsible for so many iconic movie characters, but the actor will soon, surprisingly, be making the jump to television. The celebrated actor will be starring in the Jason Segel-led AppleTV+ series Shrinking, meaning that he may take on fewer movie roles.
Between Indiana Jones, Han Solo, and Deckard, so many famous characters wouldn't be half as memorable if it wasn't for Ford's portrayal of them. But as he was the most in-demand actor of all time at one point, he could have made tons of other movie characters iconic too, only he chose to turn them down. And some characters have become iconic thanks to other actors, but those roles were first offered to Ford.
Updated on December 3, 2022, by Colin McCormick: Harrison Ford is set to take over the role of Thunderbolt Ross in the MCU, previously played by late actor William Hurt. While it is a famous role that Ford is stepping into, the actor has turned down a number of other high-profile parts that went on to define the careers of other actors. Though the casting seemed to work out well, it is fun to see what might have been with some of these roles that Harrison Ford turned down.
Oskar Schindler - Schindler's List (1993)
Ford and Steven Spielberg have had a great working relationship over the decades, and they bring out the best in each other. The Indiana Jones movies wouldn't be as good if it wasn't for Ford's iconic performance, and Ford wouldn't be where he is now if not for Spielberg.
However, that doesn't always mean Ford will accept every offer Spielberg throws at him. Spielberg offered Ford the lead role in Schindler's List, but Ford quickly turned it down. But the reason why is so commendable and it makes fans only respect the actor more. Ford turned down the lucrative offer because he thought his star power would distract from the importance and lessons of the real-life story.
Benjamin Martin - The Patriot (2000)
Though Ford has certainly had more than his share of box office success in the past, he did turn down one of the highest-grossing war movies of all time. The Patriot stars Mel Gibson as a farmer in 1776 who joins the American Revolution after his son is murdered by a British officer.
Ford was initially offered the role of Benjamin Martin and it is easy to see him playing the heroic family man. But Ford told People that he turned down the part because he found the movie boiled the entire war down to one man's revenge mission.
Dr. Alan Grant - Jurassic Park (1993)
Along with Schindler's List, Spielberg wanted Ford for Jurassic Park too, which is interesting given that both movies, as different as they are, were released in the same year. It isn't hard to believe, as the character seems almost like it was written for Ford in the way that he acts and moves in the film. And Spielberg could have been directing Neill in a particular way to get that Ford-like touch. Even Grant's get-up is familiar with Indiana Jones's attire.
According to Slash Film, in a conversation between the actor and director, Ford blamed Spielberg for only casting him in Indy movies. But Spielberg quickly reminded the actor that he was the one who turned down Jurassic Park. Unfortunately, Ford quickly moved the conversation along before fans could find out why.
Frank William Tyne Jr. - The Perfect Storm (2000)
In 2000, George Clooney played the captain of a fishing vessel in the mediocre disaster movie The Perfect Storm. But according to Mental Floss, the studio wanted Ford instead. While the movie was a huge hit at the time, mostly thanks to its leading role from Clooney, it has quickly been forgotten.
A $328 million worldwide box office gross was fairly impressive at the time, but it isn't exactly a movie that's making millions of dollars a year from syndication sales like other films from the year 2000. With Ford in the role, given that he's such a bankable actor, especially 22 years ago, The Perfect Storm would likely have had the exact same trajectory.
Eliot Ness - The Untouchables (1987)
Though there are some great gangster movies throughout Hollywood history, Ford has avoided the genre up until now. However, he came close to starring in Brian De Palma's crime epic The Untouchables about the government agents attempting to take down Al Capone.
According to Tampa Bay Times, Ford was among a long list of big-name actors who were sought for the heroic role of agent Eliot Ness. Other contenders include Jack Nicholson, Mickey Rourke, and Michael Douglas with Kevin Costner eventually getting the role.
Gay Perry - Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
The last thing audiences think of when it comes to Harrison Ford is humor. His approach to certain problems and his befuddled reactions in the Indy movies are definitely funny at times, but those are just tiny moments. And while he was in the out-right comedy Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, he essentially played a caricature of his real-life self.
2005's Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is one of the cleverest and funniest postmodern noirs of the 21st century, and the comedic moments mostly come from Gay Perry, a camp but also very masculine private detective. According to Slash Film, director Shane Black initially wanted Ford in the role, but for as great as the character is, it's no wonder the actor wasn't interested.
Gordon Tall - The Thin Red Line (1998)
According to Orlando Sentinel, Ford turned down the role of Gordon Tall in the epic war drama The Thin Red Line, a role that eventually went to Nick Nolte. But director Terrence Malick is notorious for cutting entire roles out of his movies, even ones that were initially the lead characters.
And Malick was especially trigger-happy when it came to cutting actors out of the 1998 three-hour war epic, so who knows if Ford would have even made the cut. The actor saved Malick and himself a lot of trouble and time.
Paul Sheldon - Misery (1990)
The simple yet effective horror movie Misery is based on a Stephen King story. It follows a writer named Paul Sheldon who is rescued from a car crash by a nurse who happens to be his biggest fan. However, she soon reveals herself to be more dangerous than she seems, holding Paul captive.
Though the character of Annie Wilkes earned most of the attention and an Oscar for Kathy Bates, Paul is just as pivotal. Before the role went to late actor James Caan, Slash Film confirms that Ford was among those offered the part.
Robert Wakefield - Traffic (2000)
Traffic might seem like a simple drama about drugs and the effects it has on addicts, police, and politicians, but it's actually one of the most ambitious and biggest movies of the 2000s. The movie has 135 speaking parts and is shot in eight different countries, which means that everyone's screen time is limited.
That may have been why Ford initially turned down Traffic, as he did eventually end up working with director Steven Soderbergh to develop the character. However, it's like Ford was playing "Red Light, Green Light" with the director, as once the character was developed, he pulled out yet again.
Curtis McCabe - Vanilla Sky (2001)
According to Trends Catchers, Ford was in-demand for the 2001 sci-fi movie, Vanilla Sky. The role eventually went to Tom Cruise, and at that point in time, if it was going to go to anyone but Ford, it was going to the Mission: Impossible actor. Cruise was starring in everything at the time, and he was the most bankable actor in the world, so it's no surprise that the studio went with him, even despite having such a different style of acting from Ford.
While Blade Runner 2049 is science fiction and Star Wars is sci-fi fantasy, and even the last Indiana Jones movie has aliens in it, it'd be great to see Ford in a non-franchise sci-fi flick. Vanilla Sky has a truly original concept and it's easy to envision Ford as Curtis McCabe.
Bob Barnes - Syriana (2005)
It seems as if Clooney was picking up a lot of Ford's scraps in the 2000s. Along with The Perfect Storm, Clooney played the leading role in Syriana, but according to Film Ink, it was originally offered to Ford. Interestingly, it's the second Stephen Gaghan-written movie that the actor has turned down, as the Academy Award-winning writer also penned Traffic.
However, though Ford hasn't admitted this about any other role that he's turned down, he has mentioned that it was one of the few career choices he made that he later regretted. Ford explained, "I didn’t feel strongly enough about the truth of the material, and I think that I made a mistake."
Jack Ryan - The Hunt for Red October (1990)
Some things in Hollywood are just meant to be even if they don't work out the first time around. In adapting the Tom Clancy novel The Hunt for Red October to the big screen, Vanity Fair reports that Ford was initially the first choice to play CIA analyst Jack Ryan.
When Ford turned the role down, Alec Baldwin was cast but gave up the part in the first sequel. Ford would go on to deliver some of the best moments as Jack Ryan in Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger.
Terry Thorne - Proof Of Life (2000)
Proof of Life is an action thriller in the style of the Bourne movies, and the movie's screenplay was even written by Tony Gilroy, who penned all of the Bourne films. And it could have been a perfect vessel for the Star Wars actor.
According to Eighties Kids, Ford turned down the main role, giving way to Russell Crowe nabbing the job instead. However, Ford dodged a bullet, as the movie was a massive box office bomb when it was released in 2000. With a production cost of $65 million, the film failed to even make back its budget, making just $62 million worldwide.