Harrison Ford says playing Red Hulk took ‘not caring’

Harrison Ford is a natural fit to play a Hulk. After all, we would like him when he’s angry.

The Raiders of the Lost Ark star discussed his decision to portray Thaddeus Ross/Red Hulk in the forthcoming Marvel movie Captain America: Brave New World. After Variety asked what it took to play the president-slash-antihero, Ford responded, “What did it take? It took not caring. It took being an idiot for money, which I’ve done before.”

Numerous Ford fans were surprised to hear he accepted a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as he’s spent much of his career grumpily dodging geeky questions about Star Wars and Blade Runner. Ford, however, says he’s not above taking a gig for a sweet, sweet paycheck.

“I don’t mean to disparage it,” Ford said. “I’m just saying you have to do certain things that normally your mother would not want you to do — or your acting coach, if you had one. But it’s fun, and I enjoyed it. I had a great time, and I’m delighted at the response that we got with the trailer.”

Ford is taking over the Thunderbolt Ross role from the late William Hurt, who played the character in The Incredible Hulk and several subsequent MCU projects. The Witness star had previously appeared flabbergasted by the well-known fact that his character also masquerades as the Red Hulk — but in an interview with Entertainment Weekly at Comic-Con 2024, he clarified that his ignorance was a ruse.

“I did know, and I thought it was a spectacular secret to keep,” he said. “Unfortunately, the secret’s out of the bag.”

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The actor didn’t cite money as his primary motivation to take on Captain America in his conversation with EW: “I had seen other actors in the Marvel universe — well respected, really good actors — have a really good time. And I said, ‘I want me some of that. And I got some.'”

Ford also declined to answer a question about whether Indiana Jones or Thaddeus Ross deals better with snakes.

“I’ve always treated these questions with the utmost respect and somehow, at the same time, complete disdain,” he quipped. “I will not answer that stupid question. But thank you for the opportunity.”

Captain America: Brave New World also stars Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America, Giancarlo Esposito as Seth Voelker/Sidewinder, and Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns/the Leader. The film slithers into theaters on Feb. 14, 2025.