Not everyone agreed with the decision to cast Harrison Ford in Blade Runner, but Ridley Scott was certain he was destined for greatness. Although Ford had already appeared in Star Wars when he was cast as Rick Deckard in Blade Runner, this wasn’t sufficient to convince financiers that he was a big enough bankable leading man to star in the film.
As an icon of 20th-century cinema, roles like Deckard, Han Solo, and Indiana Jones turned Ford into a household name. While it would be absurd to question Ford’s star power today, Ford’s career took a while to blossom, and prior to achieving his breakout success in Star Wars, he was making a living as a self-taught professional carpenter.
Blade Runner’s Financiers Had Doubts About Harrison Ford’s Star Power (Ridley Scott Didn’t)
Ridley Scott Vouched For Harrison Ford
In a career retrospective for GQ, Ridley Scott looked back on his decision to cast Harrison Ford in Blade Runner. Scott spoke candidly about receiving pushback from his financiers, who asked, “Who the f**k is Harrison Ford?” to which the director cleverly replied, “You’re going to find out.”
Scott spoke candidly about receiving pushback from his financiers, who asked, “Who the f**k is Harrison Ford?”
This amusing anecdote not only demonstrates how sure Scott was that he wanted Ford for the role of Deckard but also highlights that the filmmaker could see his star potential right from the beginning. This isn’t the only time Scott recognized a future celebrity’s potential, as he gave early career roles to everyone from Sigourney Weaver to Brad Pitt.
Although Ford has had plenty of iconic roles throughout his long and varied career, Deckard remains a favorite among sci-fi fans, and he even returned to reprise the part in Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049. Ford’s role as Deckard played a large part in solidifying his legacy away from Star Wars as he expanded his sci-fi resume.
Harrison Ford Was A Major Reason For Blade Runner’s Success
Rick Deckard Is A Cinematic Icon
Blade Runner was a special kind of film where everything, including the acting, atmosphere, script, and style, just worked out perfectly. However, it must be said that Harrison Ford was a major contributor to the film’s success, as he delivered one of his very best performances.
The Blade Runner franchise will continue with the upcoming miniseries Blade Runner 2099 on Prime Video. Featuring stars like Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer, Ford is not set to return.
With an aloof style that had audiences debating Deckard’s true nature as a human or replicant for decades on end, Ford’s performance was layered, impactful, and effortlessly cool. The richly realized world of Blade Runner, which blended futuristic tech with a neo-noir feel, would not have been nearly as impactful without a star like Ford at the center of it.
Source: GQ
