Harrison Ford’s impact on Hollywood is undeniable. With a career spanning over five decades, he has cemented his place as one of the most influential and beloved actors in the industry. His role as Han Solo in Star Wars alone was enough to guarantee his legacy, but the moments that truly shaped his career go beyond, or behind the scenes, of his notorious characters and movies.

However, Ford’s career didn’t start with instant success. He spent years auditioning for roles before landing smaller parts in movies like Getting Straight, American Graffiti, and The Conversation. While these roles began to gain him recognition and traction in Hollywood, it was a phone call from George Lucas after his involvement in Star Wars, that launched him to stardom.

Ford Remembers The George Lucas Phone Call

Lucas Knew Ford was the Man for the Job

Ford reveals that the phone call from Lucas changed his life, as the movie turned out to be Raiders of the Lost Ark. The director and actor have quite a long history with each other that began with American Graffiti. In the film, Ford portrayed Bob Falfa and even shared in the past how the director made him feel heard for the first time. That relationship clearly continued into the Star Wars franchise, but it’s the Indiana Jones franchise where Ford became a leading action star of his own. He eventually portrayed that role for four decades.

While speaking with WSJ. Style, Ford was asked what phone call changed his life. He recalled the phone call from Lucas, who had a script for the star and wanted to send it his way. This would eventually lead him to see Steven Spielberg, and it was at this moment that Ford knew he had walked away with the grand prize. This grand prize would eventually be Raiders of the Lost Ark. Read his comment below:

“George Lucas called me up, and he said, ‘I’ve got a script I’m going to send up to your house. I want you to read it and go over to Steven Spielberg’s house and talk to him for a minute.’ And I walked away with the grand prize.”

What This Means For Harrison Ford’s Legacy

One Phone Call Changed Everything

The phone call from Lucas wasn’t just a turning point for Ford’s career, but it paved the way for one of the most successful film franchises of all time. Indiana Jones introduced a new kind of hero, who was adventurous, witty, fearless, and navigated his adventures at an advanced age. The success of Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981 paved the way for four sequels, three of which were directed by Spielberg, and made Ford a household name.

Lucas, Spielberg, and Ford’s partnership didn’t just define Indiana Jones. It laid the foundation for a career that spanned multiple decades. Ford’s legacy is still as relevant as ever, with his final hurrah as Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023). In a larger sense, this phone call illustrates the power of collaboration in Hollywood. For Ford, the conversation about Raiders of the Lost Ark led him to one of the most memorable roles in film history. The relationship not only shaped Ford’s career but also influenced an entire generation of filmmakers and actors, and surely generations thereafter.

Source: WSJ. Style