Played by Bruce Willis, Harry Stamper becomes the unlikely hero chosen by NASA to save the world. Bruce had an uncanny sense about who this character was and exactly how to play him, says Bruckheimer. He is the common man he can become you and you want to be him, to see yourself in him. It’s that quality that makes Bruce a movie star. Another great thing about working with Bruce is that he comes to the party with a lot of gifts he’s well prepared, he knows what he wants to do and he knows how to relate to the audience. Bruce just had the ability to convey Harry’s ethics, his sense of duty and a modest kind of bravery.
Harry’s asked to save the world, says Willis. They tell him he’s the only shot they have to stop this asteroid coming in. It’s a pretty simple answer, I mean, what’s he going to say, no? But he won’t go unless he can take his crew. They’re not very good at a lot of other things in life no social graces but they’re good drillers and he knows he can’t do it without them.
