Director Ridley Scott sat down with GQ magazine for a retrospective video interview, revealing that financiers on “Blade Runner” initially questioned his decision to cast Harrison Ford in the lead role. At the time, Ford was already an established star, having played Han Solo in “Star Wars” and was set to headline “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
Scott recalls that his financiers were unfamiliar with Ford, saying “Who the fuck is Harrison Ford?” The director confidently assured them, “You’re going to find out.” Ford’s involvement marked a departure from his previous roles, as he was drawn to the dramatic depth and complexity of “Blade Runner.”
The film’s development process involved five months of collaboration with writer Hampton Fancher, who adapted Philip K. Dick’s novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” Scott wanted to explore the story beyond its initial setting, feeling that there were 90 stories within the first 20 pages.
Upon release, “Blade Runner” received mixed reviews, including a scathing critique from Pauline Kael in The New Yorker. However, Scott remains unfazed by the negative reception, saying he found it “insolent” and noting that his level of experience warranted such harsh criticism.
Source: https://variety.com/2025/film/news/blade-runner-financiers-asked-who-is-harrison-ford-1236275059