by Fresh off the massive success of Star Wars in 1977, Harrison Ford was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. However, when offered the role of Captain Dallas in the sci-fi/horror film Alien in 1979, Ford turned it down. On the surface, passing up a leading role in a major studio film seemed like an odd career move. But upon further examination, Ford’s decision not to play Captain Dallas likely came down to one key factor – avoiding typecasting.
Just two years removed from his breakthrough role as Han Solo in Star Wars, Ford had established himself as a charismatic spacefarer and swashbuckling hero. Taking on another captain role in the sci-fi genre so soon after Star Wars could have pigeonholed Ford as that type of character actor. And for an ambitious performer looking to branch out and show his range, being typecast that early in his career was a risk not worth taking.
Fresh Off Star Wars Success
When Star Wars was released in May 1977, it became a massive worldwide phenomenon, shattering box office records and making instant stars out of its leads Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford. Though Ford was already in his mid-30s with nearly two decades of mostly television roles under his belt, Han Solo catapulted him into the A-list ranks of stardom.
By the late 1970s, Ford had already signed on to reprise his role as Han Solo in the upcoming Star Wars sequels The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983). Taking the role of Captain Dallas in Alien would have meant playing yet another space captain-type character just two years after audiences fell in love with Ford as Solo. Reprising Han Solo was one thing, but doing another sci-fi captain role risked severely limiting Ford’s career options going forward through potential typecasting.
Branching Out as an Actor
In addition to avoiding being pigeonholed into space captain roles, Ford was also looking to branch out as a serious actor beyond just action-adventure fare. Having achieved major stardom with Star Wars, the ambitious Ford likely wanted to prove he had range as a performer and wasn’t just a one-trick space cowboy.
Around the same time he turned down Alien, Ford began pursuing more grounded, dramatic roles. In 1979 he starred alongside Jane Fonda and Vanessa Redgrave in the drama The Electric Horseman. And of course, his career-defining turn as Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark was right around the corner in 1981, allowing Ford to showcase his talents in a swashbuckling period piece rather than science fiction.
Playing Captain Dallas in Alien may have satisfied Ford’s itch for another sci-fi lead, but it wouldn’t have helped broaden his image as anything more than a space captain. The role didn’t provide much meaty dramatic material for Ford to sink his acting chops into. As the ill-fated Captain of the Nostromo, Dallas meets a grizzly end about halfway through the film. It’s a supporting role in an ensemble cast rather than a true starring vehicle.
Scheduling Conflicts May Have Played a Part
It’s also possible that scheduling conflicts stemming from his Star Wars commitments factored into Ford’s decision to turn down Alien. Principal photography on The Empire Strikes Back was set to begin in early 1979, just as Alien went into production. Even if Ford wanted the role of Dallas, juggling the two productions may have proved untenable.
Ridley Scott, who was directing Alien, would later say that Ford was always his first choice for Captain Dallas. But according to the film’s casting director, the role was offered to other actors like Jon Voight and Jeff Bridges before eventually going to Tom Skerritt. This indicates Ford passed on the role relatively early in pre-production, likely because he didn’t want to take time away from Empire.
The Legacy of the Decision
In declining to play Captain Dallas, Ford avoided being pigeonholed as a sci-fi captain while broadening his career options. And his choice worked out well – Tom Skerritt delivered a memorable leading performance in Alien and Ford’s star power only continued to grow.
Just two years after turning down Dallas, Ford took on his most iconic role to date as Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Indy allowed Ford to show his talents in an action-adventure period piece rather than science fiction. It remains one of his most famous and beloved performances to this day.
Over the next few decades, Ford proved his versatility in an array of major roles across different genres – from Blade Runner to Witness to The Fugitive. He demonstrated an ability and willingness to take on diverse material, avoiding the typecasting that playing Dallas in Alien may have risked bringing. By passing on easy work to challenge himself as an actor, Ford’s career longevity and popularity only increased.
In retrospect, turning down Captain Dallas was clearly the right choice for Harrison Ford at that stage in his career. It allowed him to continue branching out as a serious actor rather than risk being pigeonholed in sci-fi fare. And Alien still became a genre-defining classic with Tom Skerritt in the leading role. Ford’s calculated decision to avoid typecasting serves as an important example for actors looking to sustain long careers in Hollywood.
