Harrison Ford’s impact on Hollywood is undeniable. With a career spanning over five decades, he has cemented his place as one of the most influential and beloved actors in the industry. His role asHan Solo inStar Warsalone was enough to guarantee his legacy, but the moments that truly shaped his career go beyond, or behind the scenes, of his notorious characters and movies.
However,Ford’s careerdidn’t start with instant success. He spentyears auditioning for roles before landing smaller partsin movies likeGetting Straight,American Graffiti,andThe Conversation. While these roles began to gain him recognition and traction in Hollywood,it was a phone call from George Lucas after his involvement inStar Wars,that launched him to stardom.
Ford Remembers The George Lucas Phone Call
Lucas Knew Ford was the Man for the Job
Ford reveals that the phone call from Lucas changed his life, as the movie turned out to beRaiders of the Lost Ark. The director and actor havequite a long history with each other that began withAmerican Graffiti. In the film, Ford portrayed Bob Falfa and even shared in the past how the director made him feel heard for the first time. That relationship clearly continued into theStar Warsfranchise, but it’s theIndiana Jonesfranchisewhere Ford became a leading action star of his own. He eventually portrayed that role for four decades.
Tom Selleck was initially offered the role of Indiana Jones inRaiders of the Lost Ark,but he turned it down.
While speaking withWSJ. Style, Ford was asked what phone call changed his life.He recalled the phone call from Lucas, who had a script for the star and wanted to send it his way. This would eventually lead him to see Steven Spielberg, and it was at this moment that Ford knew he had walked away with the grand prize. This grand prize would eventually beRaiders of the Lost Ark. Read his comment below:
“George Lucas called me up, and he said, ‘I’ve got a script I’m going to send up to your house. I want you to read it and go over to Steven Spielberg’s house and talk to him for a minute.’ And I walked away with the grand prize.”
What This Means For Harrison Ford’s Legacy
One Phone Call Changed Everything
The phone call from Lucas wasn’t just a turning point for Ford’s career, but it paved the way for one of the most successful film franchises of all time.Indiana Jonesintroduced a new kind of hero, who was adventurous, witty, fearless, and navigated his adventures at an advanced age. The success ofRaiders of the Lost Arkin 1981 paved the way for four sequels, three of which were directed by Spielberg, and made Ford a household name.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny(dir. James Mangold)
June 18, 2025
Lucas, Spielberg, and Ford’s partnership didn’t just defineIndiana Jones.It laid the foundation for a career that spanned multiple decades. Ford’s legacy is still as relevant as ever, withhis final hurrah as Indiana JonesinIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny(2023). In a larger sense, this phone call illustrates the power of collaboration in Hollywood. For Ford,the conversation aboutRaiders of the Lost Arkled him to one of the most memorable roles in film history.The relationship not only shaped Ford’s career but also influenced an entire generation of filmmakers and actors, and surely generations thereafter.
