Tom Selleck Turning Down Indiana Jones Might Have Been the Biggest Mistake of His Acting Career

Many actors from the 1980s and 1990s have successfully found their place in modern cinema. Rather than being left behind, they have adapted to the cinema climate and accepted roles that fit them best. Tom Selleck, for instance, used to be a popular star back in the day and thanks to his incredible talent, he continues to delight his fans.

However, had he made one decision differently in his life, the entire trajectory of his story could have looked entirely different. The actor is known for his charming good looks and the ability to swing between humor and drama effortlessly. From movies to television, the star has done it all with incredible finesse. But one thing he didn’t do is play the lead in the successful Indiana Jones franchise.

Tom Selleck was the first choice to play Indiana Jones

The Blue Bloods actor Tom Selleck was reportedly the producers’ first choice to play the dashing professor Indiana Jones. The role eventually went to Harrison Ford who shone brightly in the hat and beige costume of the character. Selleck recently opened up about turning down this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and what would have been had he wielded the iconic whip of the witty archeologist.

Selleck appeared on the Today show to talk about his memoir where he shared this tidbit of history.

I was offered the role and wanted it, but I had done a pilot of ‘Magnum.’ And Steven Spielberg and George Lucas kept the offer out to me. They said, ‘We’ll work it out and you can do both.’ And the more they wanted me, the more CBS said, ‘No, we don’t want to let him do it.’

The actor was committed to playing Thomas Magnum in Magnum P.I. which also turned out to be highly successful and beloved among the masses. Though Selleck has zero regrets, it would have been fascinating to see him play both legendary characters – Magnum and Jones. Selleck calls doing Magnum P.I. the best thing that has happened to him.

Magnum P.I. paved the way for Tom Selleck to go big in Movies

Eventually, Selleck was grateful for doing Magnum P.I. as it paved the way for him to do movies on the big screen like Three Men and a Baby and In and Out. The actor was happy that Steven Spielberg and George Lucas wanted him to play Indiana Jones and that was something he was satisfied with. Selleck won an Emmy for his role as Magnum which catapulted him into stardom and made him one of the most wanted actors in the industry.

There was no dearth of projects and ventures for Selleck subsequently. He even went on to play a recurring role in Friends, the show that took the television space by storm. TV shows became a second home for Selleck who has a variety of series under his belt in his decades-long career. Magnum P.I. was successful beyond Selleck’s imagination as he never thought the show would bring him this much stardom and recognition.

What is Tom Selleck doing now?

Selleck was most recently seen in Blue Bloods, a show about police officers that ran for 14 glorious seasons. The actor was at the center of it all, the patriarch of the family that dealt with tragedies on the job, and sometimes the grief permeated to their personal lives as well. The show ended this year, leaving fans sad and wanting more. The 79-year-old actor is far from being done with working since he seems to go from one project to another.

Selleck will perhaps next be seen in a Jesse Stone project. The actor is keen to revisit his past fan-favorite character, especially after wrapping up Blue Bloods which gained more popularity season after season. He told TVLine,

It looks like now I might have to write [a script for another movie]. It wouldn’t be a final one because everybody loves it. Jesse is a great character, and it would be fascinating to find out where he is quite a few years later.

Much like his character Frank Reagan, Stone is also a police investigator. Selleck enjoys playing mysterious roles that make people wonder what lies beneath the surface. With his talent and star power, there will certainly be no shortage of projects for the actor in the future.