Well, sometimes, you’ve got to color outside the lines to paint a masterpiece!
When you think of legends, you often imagine them as untouchable figures, perched on thrones, basking in the adoration of the masses. But then, you see Harrison Ford step into a comedy-drama like Shrinking, and suddenly, he feels less like an icon and more like a neighbor you’ve known forever—just with a little more swagger and a few more action-packed tales to share. There’s an unexpected warmth and humanity that makes him feel so much more real.
It’s not just Ford’s charm that’s drawing us in, but the boldness of a show that refuses to stick to the tried-and-true. In fact, the very creators of Shrinking were a bit terrified at first to push Ford into the wackier side of his character. Why? Because, well—he’s Harrison Ford!
The guy who made Han Solo and Indiana Jones household names. But once they got past their hesitation, the results were… epic.
Harrison Ford finally let loose: How Shrinking creators got over their nerves
Season two of Shrinking takes things to a whole new level, not just in storytelling, but in Harrison Ford’s ability to take risks on screen. The actor, 82, threw himself into his role in Shrinking with both feet, determined to get under the skin of a character battling Parkinson’s disease.
Yet, the creators were initially worried about pushing him too far. Yes, before the second season of Shrinking, it seemed almost unfathomable to picture Ford delivering some of the unhinged lines they had planned. But this is exactly what happened. “Do you want me to pull my pants down and make my a** clap?”—that’s not the dialogue you’d imagine coming out of the mouth of someone known for his brooding, intense roles.
But there it was, and it landed perfectly. Jason Segel, one of the show’s creators and stars, couldn’t help but burst into laughter at how Ford delivered the line (via Forbes). It wasn’t just a funny moment—it was proof that Ford could stretch beyond the tough-guy persona that he built a career on.
It took time and a trust that slowly built up between Ford and the creators. The first season had them playing it a little safe, intimidated by his sheer star power. But as Bill Lawrence, one of the show’s creators, said, once they found that mutual trust, they knew they had an actor who could go anywhere, no matter how wild the idea seemed. “The greatest thing about the first season was that we developed mutual trust,” Lawrence shared.
He’s so good, he’ll try anything now.
This freedom led to some hilarious moments that viewers never saw coming, such as Ford’s Batman-esque voice, which had Segel wondering if Hollywood missed a golden opportunity for a different kind of Batman.
Shrinking’s secret sauce: Trust, risk-taking, and Harrison Ford’s unmatched legacy
The beauty of Shrinking lies in its collaborative spirit. As Jason Segel and Bill Lawrence have both emphasized, it’s the trust between the cast, the crew, and even the writers that allows this show to go to such strange, unexpected places. Apple TV+ has given them the freedom to take risks and tell these stories without the usual corporate constraints.
As Segel put it, season one was about getting someone out of a dark hole, but the second season is about finding out what happens when that person has to deal with life now that the immediate danger is over.
It’s not lost on anyone how lucky they are to have someone like Harrison Ford onboard. “There’ll never be another Harrison Ford,” Lawrence said, adding:
There’s never going to be another actor or actress because of the way the medium has changed, that was Han Solo and Indiana Jones and The Fugitive and the US President in Air Force One, and it is just bananas to me.
Not just because of his legendary roles, but because of his willingness to jump into something new with both feet—something the creators of Shrinking never expected but are incredibly grateful for.
And the creator’s fear? It’s all part of the ride. They pushed Ford into uncharted waters—and, as expected, he nailed it.
Shrinking’s first season garnered two Emmy nominations: Jason Segel for Lead Actor and Jessica Williams for Supporting Actress. Harrison Ford also received nods at the Critics’ Choice and TCA Awards. In its second season, the series earned a spot on the American Film Institute’s top ten TV programs of the year.
Shrinking is currently available to watch on Apple TV+.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
