Growling his way into our hearts in Air Force One, President James Marshall was one heck of a hero. Yeah, we might still be a little sore about that hijacked plane, but it ended up turning Marshall into a hero. But what if Harrison Ford could return for a sequel that’s even more explosive?
This time, forget Air Force One – we’re talking about an Air Force carrier, a global crisis, and Ford, older and wiser. Get ready for the sequel that might just redefine the presidential action genre!
Harrison Ford’s Air Force One Almost Had a Sequel, But Hollywood Passed
Remember James Marshall, the dynamic leader who saved Air Force One (and his family) from terrorists in a white-knuckle joyride? Well, this iconic 90s flick, featuring Harrison Ford’s now-legendary growl “Get off my plane!”, almost got a sequel, folks!
But here’s the rub: how many times can terrorists hijack Air Force One before it feels, well, a tad predictable? Screenwriter Andrew Marlowe, the brains behind the original, wasn’t oblivious. In an interview with Syfy he explained:
Harrison as president goes someplace, he’s on an Air Force carrier, it’s attacked, he’s in the middle of an unstable geopolitical situation. And so, there are things he can and can’t do, because you don’t want to inflame it. He’s got to navigate it and he’s the person at the heart of it.
Imagine Ford, with his steely resolve, facing a world crisis on a huge warship. Marlowe even teased navigating a “politically unstable situation,” adding a layer of diplomatic chess to the potential fisticuffs. Basically, Air Force One 2 could have been a high-octane blend of action and political intrigue.
So, why aren’t we dodging missiles on a giant boat with Harrison Ford at the helm? Hollywood, you may be surprised to hear, whiffed on this one. Marlowe himself admitted they couldn’t quite crack the code on a story that felt fresh and built upon the awesomeness of the first film. Plus, let’s be honest, the whole ‘President in danger on a commandeered vessel’ plot might have felt a bit too close to Steven Seagal’s forgotten gem Under Siege.
Air Force One 2 never got the go-ahead in the end. Certainly a missed chance. Well, at least we’ll always have the first one to remember when Harrison Ford could kill bad guys from 30,000 feet away by himself.
Kevin Costner Passed On $300M Air Force One, Boosting Harrison Ford’s Career
Imagine turning down a blockbuster. Kevin Costner did just that with Air Force One. The action flick became a huge hit for Harrison Ford, who landed the role after Costner’s schedule clashed. Ford said in an interview with Los Angeles Times of Costner’s decision:
This was a script that Kevin Costner originally had, and he gave it to me. Kevin knew this was a big commercial movie, but his schedule didn’t allow him to do it. And he told [the producers] he would let it go only if I could do it.
The kind gesture turned into a box office win for Harrison Ford (the film was made on a budget of $85 million and did a business of over $300 million at the worldwide box office) and a box office bomb for Costner (The Postman sank with a measly $17 million which was made on an estimated budget of $80 million) and was a massive box office dud. Funny how Hollywood works—Costner later joined Ford in the Yellowstone prequel 1923.
Watch Air Force One on Disney+.
