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After taking a long break from action movies, Harrison Ford has decided to return to the genre with a bang in Sylvester Stallone’s third and final instalment of The Expendables franchise which hits theatres on August 15. A chat with the 72-year-old actor who plays Max Drummer, a CIA operative and pilot who manages The Expendables.
You are making your debut in The Expendables franchise that also stars Sylvester Stallone’s Barney Ross and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Trench, who come with a history from the previous two films. What is your role?
I’m playing a character that is an authority figure. He creates an assignment. He manages The Expendables, and he has an interesting relationship to the character Sly (Stallone) plays. While I am involved a little bit in the action, it’s not so much. It’s an interesting character and I didn’t know Sly before. It was fun.
What kind of action scenes have you done?
Just flapping my gums! (Laughs)
The original choice for Max Drummer was Bruce Willis, but he had a fallout with Sly and you came in as a replacement...
You can’t replace Bruce Willis. I didn’t replace Bruce Willis, I played another character. Bruce Willis said he didn’t want to do it and that’s his business not mine and they asked if I wanted to be on the movie and they gave me a reason I should be.
This has been termed Sylvester Stallone’s pet project. How was it working with him?
I had the best time working with Sly. He’s a very talented actor who long ago won the battle of whether or not he should be taken seriously. He’s a real filmmaker.
Did you watch the first two films to get an idea what the franchise is about?
Why would I do that? I really don’t care!
How would you describe this film?
It’s Stallone’s version of The Avengers. We have Rocky, The Terminator, Indiana Jones, The Transporter, Mad Max, Desperado and Blade. The movie has tons of humour, there’s a lot of energy and action, but it’s well phased and controlled.
What was your experience working with director Patrick Hughes, who is so much junior to you in the industry?
Patrick is young, but he’s also tremendously focused and very aware. He sees detail and he recognises opportunity. His understanding of the importance of tone was extremely impressive.
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What was the atmosphere like on the sets and how did you all manage to keep it together?
I have no interest in how anybody else does what they do. I am interested in their work, you know, according to what it is, but I don’t feel competitive with anybody else. So I think we all have to figure out ourselves the job before us and also our way. We all do our work the same way. We’re part of the process of storytelling. We have to figure out what the story is and tell it in its most efficient and emotional way.
From playing Indiana Jones to Han Solo in Star Wars and now Max Drummer in The Expendables 3... how do you so easily step into the shoes of any character?
It’s that I’ve been able to understand how it might be useful... the responsibilities of the character in the telling of the story overall. I see something that I can emotionally relate to in that character... in that story. But, you know, the joy of this business is being able to live different lives, have the experience of being different people. It really does multiply your life experience in a wonderful way.
What was the one role that changed your life?
Well, I packed up my carpentry tools when I was just in Star Wars and I’ve never gone back to carpentry for a living... so I suppose that’s the one that changed my life.
How do you think times have changed from then to now to make it big in Hollywood?
You know... I don’t really know! The job market is not what it was when I graduated school. It seemed like everyone could find a place. It’s difficult now and I think that young people are a little more disconnected. I mean this virtual world that you live in and you have friends who like you at the press of a button and that you are connected to so many people without knowing them face-to-face induces a kind of feeling that you can do anything.
You have earned the reputation of being a grumpy interviewee...
I am not grouchy. They say I am grouchy but I am not... I am sweet!
