Harrison Ford is notoriously outspoken and has never shied away from making it clear he doesn't care for the Star Wars franchise as much as fans do.
He's not the only actor to feel that way about an iconic role, of course, and on multiple occasions, Ford has made it clear he was fine with finally bidding farewell to Han Solo after The Force Awakens (though he did return for a brief cameo role in The Rise of Skywalker).
The iconic actor is currently doing the rounds to promote Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and is preparing to say goodbye to that character as well. Arguably every bit as iconic as Han, Jones' story will end in James Mangold's finale, and it's seemingly made Ford a little more willing to reminisce about the past.
In an interview with Inquirer (via SFFGazette.com), Ford was asked directly whether he ever expected Star Wars to have such a significant cultural impact.
"In a word, no," he admitted. "Did I think they might be successful films? Yes - or I would have run away [Laughs]. It might have seemed odd to the British crew when we were making the first Star Wars.
They might have said, 'What’s going on here?' Like, there’s a seven-foot-tall man in a dog suit," Ford continued. "There’s also a beautiful princess, a wise old warrior and a callow youth. Then, there’s a smartass - I know the part I play [Laughs]. And it’s fun!"
"I thought, 'This is a fairytale.' This kind of story has always been successful, whether it’s a written or filmed fairytale. At that point in my career, it didn’t matter to me that the film would become hugely successful and end up changing movie history."
The actor concluded by sharing his gratitude for what George Lucas did for his career, proving that some of his, let's say, surly past responses have largely been in jest (or because he's grown tired of answering the same questions).
"I was grateful because [Star Wars] changed my life. I had opportunities that extended beyond director George Lucas’ and my success in making that film. It gave me freedom and opportunities that I never had imagined I might have."
"It’s so much fun to watch these films because they’re beautifully written. They’re so artfully contrived and populated with such fantastic actors. Just look at the actors I’ve had the opportunity to work with! So, it’s been nothing but joy for me."
It's great to hear Ford talk like this about Star Wars, and he clearly gives those movies a lot of credit for his career. Of course, the legendary actor isn't finished with franchises yet as he'll next be seen as General "Thunderbolt" Ross in Captain America: Brave New World.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is set to be released in theaters on June 30.