Harrison Ford on Succeeding William Hurt as Thunderbolt Ross: ‘Not a Barrier for Me’

When Harrison Ford steps into the Marvel Cinematic Universe this year as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross in Captain America: Brave New World, he’ll be taking on a role indelibly shaped by the late William Hurt. For Ford, however, the legacy left behind was less an obstacle than an invitation.

“We knew each other enough to nod and say hello, but I didn’t know the man very well,” Ford told People at the Los Angeles premiere on Feb. 11, 2025. “But I knew his work, and his work is fantastic. To have the opportunity to step into the shoes of a character that he helped to create was not a barrier to me. It seemed like a wonderful opportunity when I read the script, and that’s how I felt about that.”

Hurt originated Ross in The Incredible Hulk (2008) and reprised the role in Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and Black Widow, portraying the gruff general-turned-political power player with an iron will. His death in March 2022 left the character’s future uncertain — until Marvel announced Ford’s casting.

At San Diego Comic-Con in July 2024, Ford expressed deep respect for his predecessor. “He laid a very firm foundation for the character,” he said. “I respect him enormously in the work that he did in his lifetime. God bless his soul. I’m delighted to be able to stand on his shoulders and continue playing the character.”

In Brave New World, Ross will have ascended to the U.S. presidency — and, in a long-anticipated twist from the comics, will transform into the Red Hulk. It’s a leap Ford acknowledges came with some pressure. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, he called the role “a daunting prospect,” adding: “It took a little bit of attention to think about it, but then it took courage to forget it and just go on anyway.”

Ford’s approach blends humility with determination: honoring Hurt’s portrayal while taking Ross in bold new directions. “I wanted to make sure that I had the equipment, that I had the words, that I had the emotional opportunities to continue what he had done and bring it to some kind of conclusion,” he said.

Fans online have reacted with a mix of excitement and hesitation — some applauding Ford’s deference to Hurt’s legacy, others debating the recast itself. But for Ford, the focus is on the work ahead, not the shadow behind him. “It seemed like a wonderful opportunity,” he said simply. “So we’re doing it.”

Captain America: Brave New World hits theaters later this year.

If you’d like, I can also create a sidebar piece that tracks Thunderbolt Ross’s full MCU journey from The Incredible Hulk to his Red Hulk transformation, to give fans deeper context on Ford’s role.