CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD Director Defends Harrison Ford Against Diva Allegations
Harrison Ford has played some of the most iconic characters in film history, and he’s had a pretty incredible career. But with that level of popularity comes a certain reputation, one that sometimes leans into the grumpy, no-nonsense persona Ford has cultivated over decades.
So when an anonymous Captain America: Brave New World crew member recently described him as “one of the crankiest performers” they’d ever worked with, claiming he “hated” the motion capture process required for his role as Red Hulk, the internet, predictably, ran with it.
They said: “Everyone was trying to scramble to make him happy. That made for a very awkward work environment.”
Director Julius Onah, however, defended Ford and directly addressed the claims, shutting down the notion that Ford was difficult on set.
He said: “Look, I can’t speak to anything that anybody is speculating on or speaking about off the record. All I can speak to is my experience with Harrison. He was an utter professional.
“He is a guy who’s incredibly serious and passionate about the work. The creative process is one where you have these really meaningful and, at times, passionate conversations, but it was always working towards a target where we were making the best version of the film possible.”
Onah went on to praise Ford saying: “I think Harrison gave a phenomenal performance in the film. I was so honored to work with him.
“I learned so much from him, and the entire cast has nothing but love and respect for him, and the crew as well. That’s the experience I had in the making of this film, and that’s the truth of what our filmmaking was on set.”
Beyond the off-screen drama, Onah also shed some light on Ford’s approach to his performance, particularly in portraying Thaddeus Ross’s internal struggle.
“Harrison is so committed. I went to his house very early on in the process, and we talked quite a great deal about what it would mean to have Thaddeus Ross backslide into who he used to be.
“We meet him in the beginning of the movie, and you imagine this is a guy who’s wizened and mellowed out. Then thinking about that temper, that anger, as things keep foiling his plans to create this treaty to fairly distribute adamantium around the world. He had to start losing control.”
“We talked about what the physicality of that would look like, how that rage would emanate. Harrison, what’s great about him is you have these conversations, and then he finds it in the moment, in the scene, what feels organic when he’s in that space. So it was prep and then trusting the man—of course, how can you not trust Harrison Ford?”
In Brave New World, Ford takes over the role of Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross from the late William Hurt, who originated the character in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk.
That film plays a significant role in Brave New World, as Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) investigates why his mentor, super soldier Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly), attempted to assassinate Ross at an international summit at the White House.
Despite the behind-the-scenes speculation, it sounds like Ford took this role seriously. Onah’s comments paint a picture of an actor who was fully committed to the character and the film.
Source: Variety