What was the one question Harrison Ford asked the makers of Shrinking before taking on the role of Dr. Paul Rhoades?
by
Roma Dean
Author
Harrison Ford, the veteran actor known for his cult classic roles as Han Solo and Indiana Jones, joined the league of television and took the role of Dr. Paul Rhoades in Apple TV+’s Shrinking. This marks a shift in his career and portrays how versatile he is and how willing to take on new challenges.
He plays the role of a therapist in Shrinking, who is dealing with his deteriorating Parkinson’s disease while mentoring a colleague using unconventional methods. The series, created by Ted Lasso’s Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein, along with Jason Segel, offers a fresh take on healing, personal growth, and heartfelt storytelling.
Ford’s important question before he said yes to the role
Ford was excited to step into the shoes of Dr Rhoades but only had one question for the makers. He asked them, “Am I going to be in more than the other episodes?”. He was looking to take on the part if it was a substantial and meaningful role that was instrumental to the story, and not just a prop.
Bill Lawrence recollects the reason for Ford’s concern as the pilot script having featured him sparingly. Lawrence had to assure him that the role would expand and grow to match his talent and stature if he said yes to the show. In an interview with CinemaBlend, he said:
So when we wrote the pilot, you know, he’s not in as much of the pilot, and when I sent it to him, I went, ‘You wanna do this show?’ He’s like, ‘Am I gonna be in more than the other episodes?’ I’m like, ‘Well, if it’s just a random actor, maybe not, but if you do it, yeah.’
This episode sheds light on how Ford commits to his work and wants to be deeply engaged in what he does to contribute to the narrative. The writers tailored the script to rewrite certain parts of the script that align with Ford’s strengths and to make him a prominent character during the series.
How Dr. Rhoades’s role was crafted around the legendary Harrison Ford
Once Ford agreed to join the show, the creative team underwent a rewrite and enhancement of the script to ensure that Ford’s character had been given its due in screen time, importance in the story, and representation. This process involved changes in dialogues, as well as scenes to entirely reflect Ford’s style of acting, and interesting Paul Rhoades as an essential element in the story.
It was enhanced by personal experiences of one of the creators, Brett Goldstein’s father. This personal link further deepened the authenticity of the character and made it so believable on screen. The result was clear, they were able to create a relatable character that has since won the praise and acclaim of critics and audience alike.
Harrison Ford’s smooth transition to the role and television in general shows how dedicated he is towards storytelling and how adaptive he is as a performer. He embraced and embodied the character perfectly and depicts a man with personal and professional struggles with a lot of authenticity and conviction. Shrinking is nothing short of a testament to the abilities of Harrison Ford’s talent, which works brilliantly across all media. As the series embarks on Season 3, we can’t wait to see what new Dr. Rhoades brings to his role.
Shrinking is now available for streaming on Apple TV+ (USA).
