Harrison Ford is one of the most recognizable movie stars in the world. He has been in critically acclaimed films like Blade Runner, Witness, Working Girl, Sabrina, and Air Force One just to name a few. Where most actors are lucky to have one iconic role, Ford has two: Han Solo in the Star Wars series and Indiana Jones. These two movie characters are two of the most popular of all time, and they took Harrison Ford from a movie star to a pop icon.

Yet which role is Ford’s most iconic? Is it the space smuggler who made the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs, or is it the archeology professor who fought the Nazis? While both characters have had high-profile actors play younger versions of the characters, Ford still remains the face audiences associate with these characters. With Ford returning to play both characters after years away, take a look and see which of these legendary performances is the defining role for the actor.

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Harrison Ford Became Famous for Han Solo

     20th Century Fox

It was Han Solo in Star Wars that catapulted Ford to superstardom, and the actor almost missed out on the role as Ford was not originally allowed to audition — George Lucas originally only wanted unknowns for the lead roles. However, Lucas could not deny that it seemed Ford was born to play the role, as he gave the character a sense of swagger and world-weariness.

Han Solo is easily one of the most popular Star Wars characters of all time and much of that can be chalked up to Harrison Ford’s performance. Despite how many people did like Alden Ehrenreich as Han in Solo: A Star Wars Story, an argument can be made that the film’s disappointing box office was partly due to audiences not having an interest in a Han Solo movie without Harrison Ford.

Ford reprised his role as Han Solo in both The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, although he almost did not return for the third film in the original trilogy. Ford famously told Lucas that Han Solo should die, and part of the reason for being frozen in carbonite in The Empire Strikes Back was that it was unclear if Ford would return for the third film. While Ford did return and Lucas did not kill Han, it seemed to be a major sticking point for the actor.

32 years after Return of the Jedi, Ford reprised his role as Han Solo in The Force Awakens, and it appears part of the reason he came back might have been that J.J. Abrams and writer Lawrence Kasdan (who wrote The Empire Strikes Back and agreed with Ford on Han’s fate) agreed to kill Han off. Ford would later reprise his role one last time in The Rise of Skywalker, likely as a favor to help give the character of Kylo Ren a satisfying arc, given that friend and co-star Carrie Fisher had passed away and could not do it. Audiences certainly were happy to see Harrison Ford return as Han Solo as anyone who saw The Force Awakens trailer in theaters remembers, but the actor’s relationship to the part is a little more complicated.

Harrison Ford Is Indiana Jones

     Paramount

Harrison Ford was Steven Spielberg’s top choice for Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark, but just like with the Star Wars audition, George Lucas originally rejected the idea. Lucas, who had worked with Ford on two Star Wars films and American Grafitti at the time, did not want to cast Ford in every one of his films, similar to how his friend Martin Scorsese had frequently cast Robert De Niro.

Originally set to be played by Tom Selleck, the actor was forced to pull out due to having been cast in the series Magnum P.I. which forced them to cast Harrison Ford. It feels weird to imagine anyone else in the role of Indiana Jones; just like with Han Solo, it seemed to be a part he was born to play. Harrison Ford simply is Indiana Jones, becoming this cool, confident, and intelligent character who is also often in over his head. He redefined American action heroes and is still one of the most iconic movie characters of all time. His costume and silhouette are known to everyone.

Ford reprised his role twice in the 1980s with Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Ford took on the role of Indiana Jones 19 years later in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and 15 years after that he will return to the role one last time with the release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Unlike the part of Han Solo, which Ford always seem skeptical to reprise, the actor always was keen to reprise Indiana Jones. Ford clearly has more affinity for Indiana Jones than Han Solo.

Indiana Jones Is Ford’s Defining Role

While one might use AFI’s 100 Years….100 Heroes and & Villains to say Indiana Jones is the clear winner (Indiana Jones ranked number two on the greatest heroes, with Han Solo coming in at number 14), there is a bit more as to why Indiana Jones is the actor’s most iconic role. As popular as Han Solo is, he is just one part of the larger Star Wars franchise and the franchise has multiple famous characters. Ford and Han Solo aren’t even in a majority of the Star Wars projects released. He is a vital part of the franchise, but not the most important.

In contrast, Indiana Jones is the name of the franchise; it’s all based around him, and he has to carry it. The entire franchise rests on him, and the idea of continuing the series without him seems almost impossible. Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has said they will not recast Ford as Indiana Jones, reaffirming his iconic status as the character.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is pitched as the final adventure for the hero and the end of the franchise. While there are a number of ways to continue Indiana Jones, it seems harder for audiences to accept Indiana Jones movies without Harrison Ford than Star Wars movies without Han Solo. This is what makes Indiana Jones Ford’s most iconic role.