Tom Selleck Indiana Jones role lost Magnum P.I. contract
by Freddenver: Steven Spielberg
Tom Selleck revealed that he was originally offered the role of Indiana Jones but had to turn it down due to his contract for Magnum P.I. He explained, “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 will work it out.” The more they tried to make it work, the more complicated it became. The full interview is available at and the original clip can be found at
Transcript (en)
INDIANA JONES. I WAS OFFERED THE ROLE AND WANTED IT BUT I HAD DONE A PILOT OF MAGNUS. AND STEPHEN SPIELBERG AND GEORGE LUCAS KEPT THE OFFER OUT TO ME. THEY SAID WE'LL WORK IT OUT AND YOU CAN DO BOTH. WOW. AND THE MORE THEY WANTED ME, THE MORE CBS SAID NO, WE DON'T WANT TO LET THEM DO IT. YEAH. SO ULTIMATELY THEY STEPPED IN AND IT WASN'T EXACTLY ACROSS to bear. I mean, when I signed the deal for Magnum, it was the best thing that ever happened to me. And it certainly wasn't a consolation prize. It was a pretty good deal. So I was kind of able to stay philosophic about it. And I always say I had something to put in my hip pocket that Stephen and George wanted me, that I was enough. Wow. Full circle. I was enough. That's when it came. I know. Don't you love that? This book has got so many great anecdotes things people obviously didn't know about you.
