Summary
Over the course of his acting career,Harrison Fordhas starred in numerous critically acclaimed movies and played many beloved characters, but there is one thing that has been sadly missing from his catalog. Ford’s breakthrough in Hollywood came when he starred as Bob Falfa in George Lucas’American Graffiti. Although the 1973 comedy-drama certainly isn’t what Ford is most known for, it helped build his relationship with Lucas. Consequently,American Grafittiwas a key factor in Ford securing the role ofHan Solo inStar Warsin 1977, which was when the actor truly rose to prominence.
Harrison Ford has recently shifted from the big screen to the small screen with leading roles in Paramount+‘s1923and Apple TV+‘sShrinking.
He later played Indiana Jones inRaiders of the Lost Ark, which landedFord his second mega-successful franchise afterStar Wars. The actor would go on to appear in various notable films, fromBlade RunnertoPatriot Games, even scoring a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his role as Detective Captain John Book inWitness. While Ford’s resume is undoubtedly impressive, the vast majority of his movies have one thing in common —Ford always plays the hero, not the villain,which I find disappointing.
Harrison Ford Hasn’t Played A Proper Villain Since 2000’s What Lies Beneath
Ford Typically Plays Heroic Roles
Harrison Ford is notorious for portraying heroes on the big screen, but his performance as the antagonist inWhat Lies Beneathproves that should change. Ford starred as Dr. Norman Spencer in the 2000 supernatural horror film,directed by Robert Zemeckisand written by Clark Gregg. While Ford’s character isn’t presented as the villain at the beginning ofWhat Lies Beneath, his sinister ways emerge towards the end.Norman is the story’s proper bad guy, which is a role that Ford rarely plays,and he truly hasn’t sinceWhat Lies Beneathwas released in 2000.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
42
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Captain America: Brave New World
Thunderbolt Ross/Red Hulk
FollowingWhat Lies Beneath, Ford appeared in movies such asFirewall,Cowboys & Aliens, and42. He also reprised his roles as Indiana Jones in the fourth and fifth installments of the franchise and asHan Solo inStar Wars: The Force Awakens. So,Ford’s reputation as a hero and very rarely a villain has continued over the past couple of decades.However, it’s time for Ford to lean into his nefarious side in whatever films he stars in next.
What Lies Beneath Wasn’t Great, But Showed Harrison Ford’s Villain Potential
The 2000 Movie Has A 47% On Rotten Tomatoes
Even thoughWhat Lies Beneathcertainly isn’tthe best movie in Harrison Ford’s catalog, it’s an important one that shows off his skills as an antagonist. The 2000 supernatural horror film was praised for its performances but criticized for its screenplay, resulting in a 47 percent Tomatometer score and 58 percent Audience Score onRotten Tomatoes. Nevertheless, Ford was fantastic as the (spoiler alert) murderer inWhat Lies Beneath.His performance was chilling and terrifying,making the audience completely forget that Ford has played some of the most iconic heroes in cinematic history.
[Harrison Ford] proved he is capable of portraying not only a believable villain (which is half the battle, given Ford’s reputation) but also one that is haunting and will leave an impression on viewers.
PerhapsWhat Lies Beneath’s failures dissuaded Ford from taking on more villainous roles.However, that should never have stopped Ford from exploring this side of him as an actor. He proved he is capable of portraying not only a believable villain (which is half the battle, given Ford’s reputation) but also one that is haunting and will leave an impression on viewers. Hopefully, Ford will play a bad guy again before he retires, and I will eagerly await if or when that day comes.
Harrison Ford Finally Completes A 44-Year-Old Iconic Star Wars Line To Celebrate His Disney Legends Award
Harrison Ford delivers the perfect line at D23 2024’s Disney Legends event, honoring not only Han Solo but also Princess Leia in an incredible way.
Harrison Ford’s MCU Role Isn’t The Villain Role I Wanted
Ford Is Playing Thunderbolt Ross In Captain America: Brave New World
One might say thatHarrison Ford’s role as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Rossin the MCU counts as a proper onscreen villain, but I disagree. Yes, Ross certainly isn’t a hero, and he’s going to turn into Red Hulk inCaptain America: Brave New World. However, Ross is complex and falls more into the gray area instead of being a straight-up villain. Plus, it’s the MCU, meaning that the vibes betweenWhat Lies BeneathandCaptain America: Brave New Worldare very different, especially regarding the antagonists. Instead, I wantHarrison Fordto play a more straight-laced villain in a thriller or drama.
What Lies Beneath
Cast
What Lies Beneath is a supernatural thriller exploring Claire Spencer’s unsettling experiences with ghostly phenomena. As Claire attempts to discern the truth behind these eerie occurrences, she begins to suspect her husband might be concealing secrets, leading her to a chilling discovery.
