While filmmaker Denis Villeneuve likes to keep his films shrouded in secrecy no matter the scale, his next film entered a whole new realm of anticipation. Movies like Sicario and Arrival were fairly easy to keep under wraps since they were original stories, and audiences were fine to wait for a trailer to see what was being put together. But Blade Runner 2049 is a sequel few thought would ever happen, and it boasts an incredible ensemble cast and the return of Harrison Ford, reprising his role as Deckard from Ridley Scott’s groundbreaking 1982 film.
So with a project of this scale, some minor details are beginning to get out. Just last week Ryan Gosling revealed that they had been shooting “for many months” before Ford showed up on set, suggesting that Ford’s Deckard may have more of a supporting role in the film rather than a co-lead. And now, thanks to a delightful story Gosling recounts in a new profile for GQ, we’ve learned that there’s a fight scene between Gosling and Ford in the movie. But in filming said fight scene, a stray punch from Ford connected with Gosling’s face.
“Yeah, he did [punch me in the face]. It was kind of, you know, a rite of passage. We were just doing a fight scene and, you know, it just happened. But what was funny was, when it was over, they brought ice for my face, and Harrison pushed me out of the way and stuck his fist in the ice.” He laughs. “I asked him the other day where he got his sense of humor from—was it from his mother or his father? He said, ‘Sears.’ And he didn't have much time to shop around so he just had to grab one and get out.”
Ford’s dry sense of humor is well known and can catch many off guard, but it sounds like he took this stunt mishap in stride. When asked if it hurt, Gosling revealed Villeneuve’s reaction and recounted yet another story of Ford’s good humor:
“You know…he's tough. He's been an inspiration to everyone—everyone is doing push-ups now and taking an interest in their fitness. As soon as it happened, the director came up to me and said, ‘Look at it this way—you just got hit by Indiana Jones.’… He came by afterward with this bottle of scotch, and I thought, ‘Oh, I knew this was coming.’ And he pulled out a glass from his pocket, poured me a glass, and walked away with the rest of the bottle. So I guess he felt like he didn't connect enough to earn a whole bottle.” He smiles. “You know, they say don't meet your heroes, but I would say the addendum to that is ‘…unless they're Harrison Ford.’ 'Cause he's a cool motherfucker.”
So there you have it. A. There’s a fight scene in Blade Runner 2 between Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling, and B. Harrison Ford’s coolness is doubly confirmed.
Blade Runner 2049 opens in theaters on October 6, 2017.
