Harrison Ford To Play ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross In Next ‘Captain America’ Film

Harrison Ford has officially been cast as General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross in the upcoming Marvel movie, Captain America: New World Order. The role was previously portrayed by the late William Hurt, who passed away this March at the age of 71 due to natural causes. Hurt's Ross appeared in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War, 2019’s Avengers: Endgame and 2021’s Black Widow.

The Indiana Jones star will be beginning his Marvel career with Phase 5 opposite Anthony Mackie, Shira Haas as Sabra, Tim Blake Nelson as Dr. Samuel Sterns (reprising his role from 2008’s The Incredible Hulk), with returning cast members Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley and Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres, as well as director Julius Onah. Per Deadline, Ford’s Captain America casting had been in the rumor mill for some time. While the new film’s plot is being kept under wraps, Mackie will reprise his role as Sam Wilson, who assumed the mantle of Captain America in Disney+’s series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Ford’s General Ross is a top-ranking military official, first introduced in the Marvel comics in 1962. Ross comes to lead the team of anti-heroes known as the Thunderbolts. The Thunderbolts film is currently scheduled for July 26, 2024.

For the award-winning Ford, 80, joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe is definitely a plus to the franchise. His films have grossed more than $5.4 billion in North America and more than $9.3 billion worldwide. He is the seventh-highest-grossing actor in North America. Ford's most iconic roles range from Star Wars (1977) as Han Solo, Blade Runner (1982 and 2017) and Apocalypse Now (1979). Ford will be reprising his role as Indiana Jones for the franchise’s untitled fifth film, slated for release on June 30, 2023.