It’s been 42 years since Harrison Ford first stepped into the shoes of intrepid archaeologist Indiana Jones in the film Raiders of the Lost Ark. Based on a character created by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman and with the magic of Steven Spielberg in the direction, the film became an adventure film classic and catapulted the American actor to the top, who had already starred in two installments of Star Wars as Han Solo. Jones’ adventures continued with two equally successful films in 1984 and 1989 and a fourth, released 15 years ago, which did not shine as brightly as the previous ones.
Now, an octogenarian Harrison Ford has embarked on a fifth feat, directed this time by James Mangold (Walk the Line, Logan, Le Mans ’66), marking his final farewell to the charismatic relic savior alongside Mads Mikkelsen, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Antonio Banderas. The performer, who will debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Thaddeus Ross in Captain America: Brave New World, was moved to tears at the Cannes festival to receive a warm six-minute ovation and an unexpected Palme d’Or honor for his performance. trajectory. On the occasion of the premiere on June 28 of Indiana Jones and the dial of destiny, La Vanguardia has taken advantage of the team’s promotional tour in Los Angeles to speak with Harrison Ford by videoconference.
Fifteen years after Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, what made you want to make another Indy movie?
Well, I always wanted to complete his story, to play him at the end of his career, in the last years of his life. It’s been a long time since we last saw him on screen and a lot has changed. I have aged and so has my character. He wanted to show that new reality to explain another story about him. In the film he retires and we see him on the last day of his academic life, which hasn’t been exactly inspiring for him. So we find him at a point in his existence where he is at a low point, something we hadn’t contemplated before. On a dramatic level it works very well because, at that moment, we also know Phoebe as the character that really stimulates the plot. I guess her weakness has been the ravages of time.
The film has gone through several delays and setbacks. In what way was he involved when it came to moving forward?
I was really the one who put the most pressure. We had a very good, emotional, complex script about time that Jim and the Butterworth brothers had written. So all of that was a great encouragement to continue with the project and tell another important chapter in Indy’s life. I really wanted to embody it again, to return to action.
You have played other iconic movie characters such as Han Solo in the Star Wars saga and Rick Deckard in Blade Runner. How special do you feel that Indiana Jones has been in his career?
I feel particularly close to Indy. I am not Indiana Jones, but he is at least partially me. I have given him my experience, understanding, my emotional reality… And it is something special for me when I feel that I am able to transmit a real emotional energy to the character. It is not only important to offer entertainment. The emotional context is essential and makes the public want to know him and learn more about him. I feel very lucky to have played him all this time and to have the chance to play him for the last time in a film that I think audiences will love because it’s such a terrific ending.
What have you learned from him?
I am at the service of a group of storytellers. James Mangold is the main narrator in this film and I consider myself his assistant. I have learned many things from Indy over the course of more than forty years. I have gotten to know him well, but above all I have gotten to know my work a little more. The character means to me what it means to the audience, because that’s the service and that’s the contract between us. I am only obliged to give my best in the story that I want to tell. And to be warmly and generously received by the public, I take it as a personal compliment. It means a lot to me that people like what we’ve done.
Did you ever imagine how successful the saga would be?
No, because for me the important thing was to be able to work as an actor. I was never interested in fame or money. It’s not that I deny it, but what I feel is really valuable is having been part of something that has given me a great experience. I would even say that now I enjoy work more than before.
He is seen in excellent physical shape in the film. How did you prepare for the action scenes?
Well, the truth is that I take care of myself a lot. I usually ride my bike and play tennis. I’m glad it looks like I’ve done a lot of stunts. It’s like a piece that goes on another piece and in the end everything fits together like a puzzle. I’m going to be 81 and age takes its toll, but I feel very pleased to have been able to do as many difficult scenes as I could.
The film tells us about the possibility of time travel. If you had the opportunity, where would you like to go or who would you like to meet?
I would like to go home and stay a long time with my wife and my family. I have traveled so much these days that I am eager to return home (laughs).
