Harrison Ford Doesn’t Want Chris Pratt To Join Indiana Jones, Here’s His Reason
Harrison Ford doesn't think anyone else should play Indiana Jones.
As Harrison Ford has gotten older, many fans have wondered if the Shrinking actor would be handing over the role of Indiana Jones to someone younger. Someone like Chris Pratt, perhaps? While the Guardians of the Galaxy star inevitably comes up whenever fans start discussing potential replacements for Ford, according to NBC’s Today, Harrison has his own suggestion for who should replace him: no one.
Chris Pratt seems like a logical successor to Harrison Ford. There’s been more than a hint of Indy in both Star-Lord and Pratt’s Jurassic World character Owen Grady. Ford, however, sees it another way. “Once I’m gone, he’s gone.” the actor told NBC’s Today back in 2019.
Harrison Ford has a special bond with the character of Indiana Jones that the actor doesn’t seem to have with any other role. At one point, Ford went so far as to say, “Don’t you get it, I’m Indiana Jones.” When put that way, it would seem Chris Pratt will never get a shot at the role.
The concept of Indiana Jones–an archeology teacher that goes on globetrotting adventures–was cooked up by George Lucas and Steven Speilberg during a trip to Hawaii. The character didn’t truly come to life, however, until Harrison Ford picked up the whip and fedora. Once Ford was cast in the role, Indy went from a character to a cinema icon.
Ironically for Ford, the character wasn’t written with him in mind. Lucas didn’t want to work with any of his Star Wars peeps on Raiders of the Lost Ark and originally cast Tom Selleck as Indiana Jones. Thankfully Selleck was too busy with Magnum P.I., and Harrison was cast in his most iconic role.
Harrison Ford has played Indiana Jones for over 40 years and across four (soon to be five) movies. Interestingly, despite Ford’s protests, he’s not the only actor to play the character. Believe it or not, seven other people have portrayed Henry Jones Jr. across various media.
It started with River Phoenix being cast as a younger Harrison Ford in the prologue to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Lucas liked the idea of a young Indiana Jones so much that he created The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles for television. Young Indy was played at different ages by actors Corey Carrier and Sean Patrick Flanery.
Although those are the most famous examples, an older, one-eyed Indiana Jones was also portrayed in the series by actor George Hall. Meanwhile, voice actors Doug Lee, David Esch, and John Armstrong brought the famous nazi-punching archeologist to life in various LucasArts adventure games for PC.
With all these other actors portraying Indy at one time or another, it seems odd that Harrison Ford is so adamant that no one else takes over the role when he’s gone. Especially given how perfect Chris Pratt would be in the role. Personal politics aside, it’s hard to argue that Chris Pratt doesn’t play Star-Lord with the same scruffy, rough around the edges charm that a younger Ford brought to Indiana Jones.
Just give him a whip, a hat, and a nazi to punch, and pratt would make the perfect Indiana Jones.
