Steven Spielberg explains how Tom Selleck nearly played Indiana Jones over Harrison Ford: 'We wanted Tom'
Steven Spielberg explains how Tom Selleck nearly played Indiana Jones over Harrison Ford: 'We wanted Tom'
Joey NolfiMon, June 1, 2026 at 6:00 PM UTC
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Tom Selleck; Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones
Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty; Paramount/courtesy Everett CollectionKey Points
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Steven Spielberg revealed that he and George Lucas initially offered Tom Selleck the role of Indiana Jones.
"We wanted Tom. We gave Tom the part," the director said.
Spielberg later explained why the role didn't end up going to Selleck, and how Harrison Ford boarded the iconic franchise.
Steven Spielberg has revealed that Indiana Jones nearly adventured into very different casting territory as he and George Lucas prepped to shoot what would become one of the most iconic movie franchises in Hollywood history.
In a new interview on Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson's IMO podcast (below), the director recounts that the central character — who helped launch Harrison Ford to icon status with the release of 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark — was initially meant to be played by Tom Selleck.
"George and I had interviewed a lot of people to play Indiana Jones, and we tested them," Spielberg said on the podcast. "That was going to be whether we made the move or not. We both discovered and decided that Tom Selleck should play Indiana Jones. He came in, he read for the part, his test was good. I loved it."
Spielberg confirmed that he "wouldn't have let him have a mustache" if he ended up taking the role, however, and that's "where the strings of destiny didn't cross with Tom" in the end.
Harrison Ford in 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom'
Credit: Paramount/Everett
"We wanted Tom, we gave Tom the part, and he had, which we didn't realize, an outstanding contract with CBS network to do Magnum P.I.," Spielberg recalled of Selleck's starring role in the popular TV series that ran from 1980-1988.
The TV series went into production shortly after the search to find an actor to play Indy, further preventing Selleck from joining the film.
"Tom's a great guy. I adore him," Spielberg said, though he also recounted how he eventually landed on Ford as Jones.
Spielberg remembered accompanying Lucas, who went on to co-produce the Indiana Jones series of movies, to a screening room in Los Angeles. There, he watched an early cut of Lucas' 1980 Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back, in which Ford played Han Solo.
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"I said, 'George, what about that guy who plays Han Solo to play Indiana Jones?'" the filmmaker said. "George looked at me funny and said, 'He's Han Solo.'"
Spielberg remembered advising Lucas that the actor "could do more than one role," and, a week later, Lucas told him that he sent the Raiders script to Ford, who fell in love with it and decided to do the film.
Entertainment Weekly has reached out to Selleck's representatives for comment.
Ford's portrayal of Jones would spawn a legendary franchise spanning five films, including 2023's Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
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The series also stretched beyond the confines of the big screen, with a TV series adaptation, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, running from 1994-1996, as well as multiple video game titles, and multiple Indiana Jones–themed rides and attractions at various Disney theme parks around the world — including the upcoming Indy-themed makeover of Animal Kingdom's defunct Dinosaur ride at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Listen to Spielberg discuss casting Selleck in the IMO podcast episode above.
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