Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and Hollywood iconHarrison Forddoes not really know why he decided to join another major franchise, theMarvel Cinematic Universe, as General Thaddeus E. “Thunderbolt” Ross in the upcomingThunderbolts. Asked byTHRwhy he wanted to take on the role following the death of the late great William Hurt, Ford provided an endearingly honest answer revealing that, ultimately, he just wanted to try something different and have some fun.
“I don’t know. I can’t explain myself to myself, I just work here. (Laughs.) I thought, “Everybody else seems to be having a great time.” I watch all these terrific actors having a good time [in Marvel movies]. I like doing something different to what I’ve ever done and pleasing people with it. So I’ll try a piece of that.”
Rumors of the recasting of Thunderbolt Ross began late last year. While it initially seemed ridiculous to consider that Harrison Ford would ever join the MCU, his role in theThunderboltsmovie was confirmed not long after.
Ford has tried to explain before what it is that drew him to the role, again stating that “I’ve done a lot of things. I now want to do some of the things I haven’t done,” which sounds like as good a reason as any for the beloved actor to add his name to the ever-growing Marvel roster.
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Harrison Ford Will Feature in Phase 5 of the MCU
Fans will have to wait a little while before seeing Harrison Ford don a glorious mustache and shout at superheroes as Thunderbolt Ross, with the actor due to make his debut during Phase 5 of the MCU. The actor is expected to be introduced inCaptain America: New World Order, which will pick up with Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson as the new Star-Spangled Man and is due for release on June 13, 2025.
Ford will then join the likes of Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell), Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Red Guardian (David Harbour), and Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko) inThunderbolts, with Thaddeus Ross no doubt taking charge of this rag-tag team of heroes and villains. Directed by Jake Schreier, filming onThunderboltswill begin this year before being released on June 28, 2025.
While more specific plot details forThunderboltsremain under wraps, rumors persist that the movie will find Harrison Ford’s Thunderbolt Ross transforming into the villainous Red Hulk. Which would undoubtedly be “doing something different.”
BothCaptain America: New World OrderandThunderboltswill make up part ofPhase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which will begin this month withAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Starring Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Jonathan Majors, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Douglas, Kathryn Newton, David Dastmalchian, William Jackson Harper, Katy O’Brian, and Bill Murray,Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumaniafinds Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne, along with Hope’s parents and Scott’s daughter, dragged into the mysterious quantum realm.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumaniais scheduled to be released in the United States on Feb. 17.
