Acording to the profile on Lee Majors on the Biography Channel, when Lee went on strike during pre-production of season 5, Harrison Ford was the top contender to replace him.
However, it didn't go into detail if Ford was going to play Steve Austin ala like the replacement Rudys that came and went or if Ford was going to be playing an new Bionic operative (a different character).
I often wonder how that would have played out.
I'd never heard that, but if that was '77, surely Harrison Ford wouldn't have accepted the role since he'd already starred in "Star Wars" by then.
Star Wars was done shooting by early 76 as it went into post production then released may 77
Harrison is an amazing actor hands down, but, I do not see him as a bionic man. And after doing Star Wars, he was pretty much set in the type of acting that makes him great today.
They are giving Harrison another crack at the whip another Indy movie in the works
I've heard Ford was up for the role at the beginning as well, in 73 he had done only small roles in TV with American Graffiti coming out that August. In 77 he stole the show from Mark Hamill but still was doing co-star roles like Force 10 From Navarone and The Frisco Kid. He never did TV again, with 2 exceptions: the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special, and his appearance in season 2 of Young Indy. Perhaps taking a lead in a series was still a reasonable move for him in 77, but clearly Harrison's is a career he ought to be happy with as is.
I could easily see Harrison as Austin in the original telefilm; it's the Air Force Colonel part that would be hard with the indolent mumbles. Ford isn't quite square enough.
(11-02-2008 07:22 PM)Major Sloan Wrote: Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links.I could easily see Harrison as Austin in the original telefilm; it's the Air Force Colonel part that would be hard with the indolent mumbles. Ford isn't quite square enough.
That's a good point, Major, though they did play up Steve's maverick "anti-authority" bent in the first show - HF would have been perfect for that aspect of the character. (That was a trait they seemed to drop later. Steve seemed pretty much a company man in the series.)
Based on every research on the subject that I can find. Martin Caiden was pushing for Monte Markham the network was leaning towards Harrison Ford but the producers wanted Lee Majors and got him.
Years later when Lee Majors went on strike before production started on season 5, they were going to write Steve Austin out of the show (possibly killing off his character). Harrison Ford (fresh off of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope) and Gil Gerard were the top two contender as a replacement bionic operative character.
Martin Caiden was once again pushing to have Monte Markam's Barney Hiller's character to be a replacement (They would have probably have to rename the show The Seven Million Dollar Man if that was to happen)... however Lee Majors came came back and we got the not so stellar 5th season.