From the moment ‘Captain America: Brave New World‘ went into production, insiders whispered that it was destined for trouble. The set was reportedly a chaotic mess, with much of the frustration stemming from handling the stars of the film.
With Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford always speaking highly of each other, this revelation is shocking. Now, sources claim Ford wasn’t thrilled with being in the film.
Harrison Ford Created Tension On ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ Set: Source
While Harrison Ford stepped into the role of Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross with decades of Hollywood experience under his belt, some claim he wasn’t exactly thrilled to be there.”It seemed like he hated it and didn’t want to do it. And when Harrison was done, he was done,” a source told Vultures.
Related: Harrison Ford Joining The MCU Was A “Pinch Yourself” Moment For Marvel President Kevin Feige
“Everyone was trying to scramble to make him happy… Basically, dealing with A-list egos was the issue. It was mainly just Harrison Ford.” However, not everyone agrees with this take. Another source from the set quickly shot down the idea that Ford was difficult to work with.
So, was it just typical behind-the-scenes tension, or was Ford’s reluctance an indication of deeper problems with the film? Regardless of what actually happened on set, Ford’s attitude toward his Captain America role has been hilariously blunt. He made no secret of the fact that his primary motivation for playing Red Hulk was, well, the paycheck.
While talking to Josh Horowitz, when asked how he managed to avoid feeling ridiculous while performing motion capture for the big, angry, crimson-skinned version of Ross, Ford dryly responded, “I don’t want to break your bubble… but that’s what the money is for.” It was classic Ford, grumpy, self-aware, and brutally honest. However, he did clarify that he still cared about making a movie that audiences would enjoy.
‘Captain America: Brave New World’ Was Butchered By Its Marketing
While the behind-the-scenes drama added fuel to the fire, ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ also shot itself in the foot with its marketing. The film had an opportunity to deliver one of the biggest surprises in recent Marvel history; the full reveal of Red Hulk on-screen.
In case you missed it: Anthony Mackie Reveals The Truth About How “Famous” Harrison Ford Acts On Set
However, rather than keeping audiences guessing, the marketing team put Ford’s transformation front and center. Sure, the sight of Ford as a massive, raging, red-skinned beast is an undeniable selling point. But in doing so, Marvel sacrificed what could have been a jaw-dropping moment in the theater.
What makes this marketing misstep even more frustrating is that the studio had no problem keeping the return of Samuel Sterns under wraps. Sterns, last seen in ‘The Incredible Hulk’, finally returned as the villainous Leader. Moreover, unlike Red Hulk, his involvement was teased subtly in trailers.
