Harrison Ford reflects on William Hurt's legacy in upcoming ‘Captain America 4’ role

Harrison Ford has spoken about stepping into the shoes of the late William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross in the upcoming Marvel film "Captain America: Brave New World." 

Ford, 82, joined Anthony Mackie and other cast members at San Diego Comic-Con on July 27 to discuss his role in the superhero movie. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Ford expressed deep respect for Hurt’s contributions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

"He laid a very firm foundation for the character, I respect him enormously in the work that he did in his lifetime," Ford remarked. "God bless his soul. I'm delighted to be able to stand on his shoulders and continue playing the character."

Hurt, who passed away in 2022, initially appeared in the MCU in 2008’s "The Incredible Hulk" and continued in the role across four films, including 2021’s "Black Widow." 

In "Captain America: Brave New World," Hurt’s character becomes the President of the United States and is expected to have a complex dynamic with Mackie’s character, Sam Wilson, who is now Captain America.

Ford shared his excitement about joining the MCU, stating, "Feels good, feels officially good. I'd been watching really good actors having a really good time working in the Marvel universe and I'm delighted to now be one of them." He also humorously added, "They're good actors, I'm not saying I'm a great actor, I'm just saying."

At Comic-Con, Ford was introduced by Mackie as "Mr. President," and it was revealed that Ford will also portray a red version of the Hulk in the film. 

The movie, which also stars Tim Blake Nelson, Danny Ramirez, and Giancarlo Esposito, is set for release on February 14, 2025.