As a Hollywood star, Harrison Ford starred in some of the most iconic franchises in film history. In his career, the Indiana Jones and Star Wars actor had not always a sure hand when choosing roles.
In 2011, a film with Ford was released that mixed science fiction and western elements. It became a bitter flop after the actor was confused just reading the script.
Harrison Ford was puzzled when reading the Cowboys & Aliens script
In Cowboys & Aliens from Iron Man director Jon Favreau, a stranger with no memory (Daniel Craig) comes to a western town. Ford reminds the protagonist in the role of Colonel Woodrow Dolarhyde that his name is Jake Lonergan and that he is a… wanted criminal with many enemies is. The strange device on his arm also brings a spaceship out of the sky, from which aliens do not come with good intentions.
Watch a trailer for Cowboys & Aliens here:
Cowboys and Aliens – Trailer (German) HD
Before the final script for the film by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Damon Lindelof went into production, it was rewritten several times over the years. Before Harrison Ford got involved, he was initially quite confused by the story when reading it. In an interview with Cinema Blend in 2011 he said:
I read about 30 pages and said, ‘I don’t understand it. I don’t think this is for me.‘ He [Fords Agent] said, ‘Well, I thought you’d like to make a movie that people would want to see.’ I said, ‘Okay, I’ll finish it,’ and read the rest. It was ambitious, I thought. I said, ‘Why don’t I talk to Jon?’, and then I met Jon Favreau. I was impressed by what he had to say and his collegial spirit.
In the end, the actor was attracted to the idea of playing a different role than usual and not playing the usual popular figure. He is said to have had a lot of fun on set during filming. However, Ford’s keen enthusiasm for the game did little for the finished film.
Sci-Fi Western starring Harrison Ford became a box office disaster
With a budget of $163 million, Cowboys & Aliens only managed to gross just over $174 million at the global box office, according to Box Office Mojo. A devastating resultwhich turns the blockbuster into a mega-flop.
The chaotic mix of different genres and tones was probably too special for a mass audience. After all, Harrison Ford enjoyed the film…