You might be surprised – Harrison Ford, America’s beloved fedora-wearing hero known from “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones,” landed his breakout roles because of some Hollywood matchmaking courtesy of Kevin Costner.
Before Ford grappled with laser swords or outran a boulder temple in Peru, Costner orchestrated a crucial moment that would catapult Ford’s career to new heights. While it’s hard to imagine an era devoid of Han Solo or Dr. Jones, think back for a bit: what if those iconic heroes never really existed? In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Ford was considered by many as mainly a tough guy actor, best known for appearances in films like American Graffiti. However, he never quite became the household name we know today. Then there came 1982: the year of The Road Warriors – also known by its less ominous title Mad Max 2 and a significant movie for both actors’ lives
Ford’s performance as Captain Fenix, a fierce and brooding character who battled with villains in an apocalyptic wasteland, gained universal applause and garnered critical acclaim. It solidified Ford as a capable warrior on screen– but it wasn’t yet Han solo or adventure icon stuff. A lesser known bit about this film comes from director Peter Weir – he kept saying there would be several sequels -and how those films helped define the action blockbuster genre,
However the key to all of this was Ford’s prior acting with an unlikely source: Kevin Costner. It was Costner’s persistent recommendation after working with Ford on The Right Stuf!
That’s where we begin, a pivotal anecdote about two film stars whose paths intertwined.
The Ride Stuff, while perhaps not as famous as any John Carpenter film it may have inspired, set things up for one of the more unusual collaborations in cinematic history — Kevin Costner and Harrison Ford? We know them much later as big box films heroes -think Field of Dreams, Waterworld. However the Right Stuff, a lesser-regarded Spielberg film (although it had several critical successes–and it was nominated for seven or eight Oscars!), introduced Costner in his earlier career to Ford… This is where those Oscar nominations begin and we delve much much deeper
At first glance, saying Kevin Costner “gave” Harrison Ford a hit movie might seem reductive. It ignores the complexity of how film careers function – talent, timing, scripts all intertwine! It’s more accurate to say their collaborations significantly catalyzed a shift in both actors’ careers.
Costner’s suggestion of Ford for roles wasn’t charity towards another actor – it was leveraging genuine connections in Hollywood and understanding the talents at play. This is where “The Right Stuff” plays its significant, but unheeded role. While overshadowed by his success later, Ford delivered in it, playing pilot Frank Borman—one of the many talented personalities brought to screen life by a young Costner and Philip Kaufman’s direction!
The Road Warriors, or Mad Max 2 – which landed them both critical mass – has its own backstory. Ford needed roles like Fenix — grittier personas – because those came easily to his skillset, honed on ‘stage work before fame’, while Costner was learning by showing great ability.
There’s an argument that success stems purely from individual talent: some may attribute Ford’s breakout solely to his natural abilities and luck catching a role tailor-made for him. They point to pre-“Road Warriors” successes he’d been in (even as secondary roles – Han Solo needed someone experienced, didn’t he?). Yet the timing worked
However, other films Costner later championed – like Field of Dreams with Kevin Anderson and a strong supporting cast — prove that a keen eye for selecting collaborators helps immensely. While many actors make this sort of recommendation it rarely feels as deliberate, Costner almost predicted future hits
One could posit that both men owed a success to studio bosses seeing potential in two diverse types of actors playing alongside each other.. The Power Broker: about Robert Moses – and later Ford in another Costner film (a much more successful, critically-acclaimed film) like *3,000 – proves this isn’t simple
Some argue that success is never solely one person’s act: it involves writers, directors , studios who take the gamble. While this rings true – It doesn’t discount Costner identifying something Ford possessed beyond what the public then knew — his vision for pairing actors in these projects was, indeed. forward looking and strategic
Looking back from our post-“Apocalyse Now” (yes…that Costner role) understanding of both actors, it feels odd – two future titans had this kind of early interplay before ‘everyone’ realized how successful they become:
Ultimately the line between ‘giving a film, ‘getting it’, etc.. seems blurry in retrospect. But the truth about both actors, particularly during their more-experimental eras (the early to mid part of that ‘Action Blockbuster’ era), was that these films…were not a guaranteed hit!
To summarize then-and still true – if you see Harrison’s career with the massive highs – think back and be thankful for Kevin recommending Harrison! It felt at that point as if BOTH their paths crossed at some kind of cosmic tipping point.
So we’ve delved into Hollywood waters… deeper than most people venture just by reading a simple movie poster!
Firstly, this explores how careers blossom NOT via straight ‘A star doing blockbuster!’ logic, but because TWO individuals whose trajectories intertwined:
- Costner was no Hollywood puppet. Seeing talents, even before the Oscars hit big, HE championed actors like Ford BEFORE others did. This isn’t just a ‘nice guy thing!’, this was strategic on multiple scales.
- The Right Stuf itself was groundbreaking for BOTH – showcasing Costner’s rising directorial acumen AS Ford honed the ‘bad** to legendary– which those earlier “American Graffiti”, supporting roles hinted AT, but the Right Place + Right Time.
Several things STAY relevant, even as Costner went ‘from dramatic lead’ TO blockbuster king: His film suggestions (often unconventional picks like John Carpenter directing his star), or seeing the value in certain actors early on…. THIS STILL WORKS today – Hollywood executives who are visionaries instead of riding safe scripts, THEY influence MORE careers than any number one on box office.
Could we go DEEPER??
YES!
We got bits AND pieces from various movies (even a quick nod at another Costner directorial work). Where DOES THIS leave those early days? What studio executives BACK THEN saw in young Costners…were they gambling OR prescient about the shift in what audiences wanted?
What other ‘hidden hands’ of fame ARE there – actors recommending EACH OTHER when it MATTERS before a major film gets greenlit?
Let this be YOUR question to ponder today. For even after you finish reading – the ‘chain of influence’ behind cinema hits, is constantly in motion!
It invites you, the viewer/reader/fan who sees those A-listings, to LOOK CLOSER– for beneath THE surface lies networks & people decisions often UNSUNG heroes, as this article intended to shine light on
Let us create that next deep-dive!