As is widely known, Tom Selleck was Spielberg and Lucas’ first choice for the role of Indiana Jones, but the actor turned it down to focus on Magnum PI
During the promotion of Indiana Jones and the Quadrant of Destiny, Harrison Ford he publicly thanked Tom Selleck for turning down the lead role in the franchise at the time the first film was in development, Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Selleck, in fact, was the first choice of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, but had to give up due to the commitments already made for the filming of Magnum PI, a series in which he was the protagonist from 1980 to 1988.
“How did I get the job? Tom Selleck had gotten the part, but he also had a commitment to a television series and was unable to cancel the contract. I became the ‘second’ choice and I am very grateful to Tom. Thanks, Tom, man. If you’re listening, thanks again“. On these pages you can already read our review of Indiana Jones and the Quadrant of Destiny, which will hit theaters tomorrow June 28th.
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Ford then recounted how he was told he got the part of Indiana Jones:
“Got a call from George Lucas. He told me: ‘I’ll send you a script home’. ‘Oh really? Ok’. ‘I want you to read it now. I want you to read it within the hour.’ ‘Uh, ok, I’ll read it in an hour’. I sat down and read it in an hour. He said to me: ‘I want you to go to Steven Spielberg’s house and talk to him’. I went to Spielberg’s house – I had never met Steven Spielberg before – and I think about an hour later I got the role“.