Who Steven Spielberg Initially Wanted to Play Indiana Jones: ‘He Was Good'

In an alternate universe, Harrison Ford wouldn't be the man we've all come to know and love as Indiana Jones.

According to director Steven Spielberg himself, the part almost went to another big name in the ‘80s, after both he and the character's creator, George Lucas, saw a screen test from the one and only Tom Selleck.

It, however, simply wasn't meant to be.

Who Spielberg Nearly Cast as Indiana Jones

While it's a story he's shared before, Spielberg recently appeared on the IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson podcast, and opened up about casting Dr. Jones. According to Spielberg, both he and Lucas-who wrote and produced the movies-"discovered and decided that Tom Selleck should play Indiana Jones" in the first film.

"He came in, and he read for the part. He was good," the director recalled of Selleck's audition. "His test was good. I loved it."

"But there's where the strings of destiny didn't cross with Tom. We wanted Tom. We gave Tom the part, and then he had, which we didn't realize, an outstanding contract with CBS network to do Magnum P.I." Spielberg continued.

"When they heard we wanted Tom, they immediately put Magnum P.I. into production, preempting Tom from being in Indiana Jones," he explained.

Had Selleck actually landed the role, Spielberg also shared he "wouldn't have let him have a mustache." The director, however, added, "Maybe if the films were as successful, he could have demanded the mustache."

How Tom Selleck Feels About Missing Out

In 2024, Selleck opened up about missing out on a role of a lifetime during an appearance on TODAY.

"I was offered the role and wanted it," he said at the time, "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,'" he recalled.

"The more they wanted me, the more CBS said, ‘No, we don't want to let him do it,'" he continued. "It wasn't exactly a cross to bear. When I signed the deal for Magnum, it was the best thing that ever happened to me."

"It certainly wasn't a consolation prize. It was a pretty good deal," he added in retrospect. "So, I was kind of able to stay philosophic about it, and I always, I'd say I had something to put in my hip pocket, that Steven and George wanted me, that I was enough."

Indiana Jones' Legacy

Eventually, the part went to Harrison Ford, who has played Indiana Jones from 1981 through 2023.

Ford would star in five different films, starting with Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981. The original trilogy continued with Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in 1984 and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade in 1989.

Then, in 2008, the series was revived with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. While it was a smash success at the box office, the franchise wouldn't get its final (for now, at least) installment, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, until 2023.

The series has also spawned a TV series, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, as well as a number of video games, books, and comics.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 11:33 AM.