“And I walked away with the grand prize.” Harrison Ford's life changed after one phone call from George Lucas, and it wasn't about Star Wars at all

Harrison Ford confessed which role in his career he considers “the grand prize.” One phone call was enough for his life to change because of it.

Edyta Jastrzebska

March 14, 2025 03:03

Source: Return of the Jedi, Richard Marquand, Lucasfilm Ltd., 1983

One phone call from George Lucas was enough to change Harrison Ford's entire life. However, it's not at all about the phone call that made him learn about his role in Star Wars. While it's certainly one of his most recognizable roles, the first one that made him so famous, it's not the one Ford values most.

The actor's life was changed by a completely different character he played, and that is Indiana Jones. And it was the offer to play him that changed a lot for Ford. To the actor before he got the role, Lucas called, mentioning to him an interesting film that he should look into. Ford was instructed by Lucas to read the script and later meet with Steven Spielberg, who directed Raiders of the Lost Ark – and after that, nothing was the same for Ford.

Harrison Ford told the story during an interview with WSJ.

George Lucas called me up and he said, “I’ve got a script I’m gonna 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.

Ford played the role of Indiana Jones for 42 years and has always spoken of the role with reverence, emphasizing how important it is to him. So it's no surprise that he sees her as his greatest possession. Besides, it's also one of his most recognizable roles. Right next to Han Solo from Star Wars, about whom he may not speak so warmly, but to whom he also returned years later in the trilogy of sequels.