Harrison Ford Talks About What It Took to Play Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World

Harrison Ford seems like a natural choice for playing a Hulk character, and he embraces the role with his characteristic charm. In discussing his portrayal of Thaddeus Ross/Red Hulk in the upcoming Marvel film Captain America: Brave New World, Ford shared that his approach to the role involved “not caring” and “being an idiot for money,” a candid remark that reflects his humorous side.

Fans were taken aback by Ford's involvement in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, especially given his usual reluctance to engage with geek culture topics like Star Wars and Blade Runner. However, Ford admits he’s not opposed to taking on lucrative roles. “I don’t mean to disparage it,” Ford explained. “You sometimes take on roles that your mother—or acting coach—might not approve of. But it’s all in good fun, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I’m thrilled with the response to the trailer.”

Ford is stepping into the role of Thunderbolt Ross from the late William Hurt, who previously portrayed the character in The Incredible Hulk and other MCU films. Ford, initially pretending not to know about Ross’s Red Hulk alter ego, later confessed that it was all part of the fun of keeping the secret.

While Ford didn’t emphasize money as his main motivation for joining Captain America, he was inspired by seeing other respected actors have a great time in the Marvel universe. “I saw how much fun other actors had in these roles and thought, ‘I want some of that.’ And I got it,” he said.

When asked about how Thaddeus Ross handles snakes compared to Indiana Jones, Ford humorously declined to answer, stating, “I always handle these questions with both respect and disdain. I will not answer that silly question, but thank you for asking.”

Captain America: Brave New World features a star-studded cast including Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America, Giancarlo Esposito as Seth Voelker/Sidewinder, and Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns/The Leader. The film will hit theaters on February 14, 2025.