10 Actors Who Passed On Iconic Movie Roles
4. Tom Selleck - Indiana Jones In Raiders Of The Lost Ark
The 80's truly were the decade of Harrison Ford. Star Wars, Blade Runner, Working Girl, and, of course, Indiana Jones. When this wisecracking treasure hunter first raced onto our cinema screens in 1981, it changed the entire landscape of adventure films altogether and inspired a generation of filmmakers.
But what if the part had gone to another 1980s legend? A star of the small screen? George Lucas, who executive produced Raiders of the Lost Ark was hellbent on getting Tom Selleck cast in the role. If you’ve ever seen him as Thomas Magnum in Magnum P.I., it’s not hard to see why Lucas was so keen on Selleck getting the part. Cool, easy-going, and always ready with a wisecrack. That sure sounds familiar.
Selleck even got as far as being fitted for a costume but filming commitments to Magnum P.I. forced him to drop out of consideration.
Despite initially being concerned about working with Harrison Ford too often after the success of Star Wars, Lucas eventually agreed to his casting and the legend of Indiana Jones was born.