LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Harrison Ford's involvement in the 'Indiana Jones' franchise spans five films, and fans are eagerly awaiting the release of the much-anticipated installment 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny' that's set to release on June 30. However, Ford was not the original choice for the titular role as it was initially intended for Tom Selleck, who is known for playing the character Thomas Magnum in 'Magnum P.I.' While Ford has shared this story on multiple occasions, he had never publicly acknowledged Selleck until recently.
During a promotional event for his upcoming film, Ford took the opportunity to express his gratitude to Selleck at the Taormina Film Festival in Italy. As per reports, Selleck had to decline the role due to scheduling conflicts, which opened the door for Ford. After years of playing the beloved adventurer, Ford finally thanked Selleck for graciously passing on the part during a panel discussion.
'Tom, if you're listening, thank you'
"How I got the job? Tom Selleck had the job, but he also incurred an obligation to do a television series and he was unable to get out of that contract. I became the 'second' choice, and I'm very grateful for Tom. Thank you, Tom, man. If you're listening, thank you again," said Ford, as reported by Deadline. Ford's appreciation for Selleck's absence from the 'Indiana Jones' role was evident, considering the immense significance the character has gained in the world of cinema.
Following his portrayal of Han Solo in the 'Star Wars' franchise, Ford experienced a mix of successful and less successful projects, including films like 'Apocalypse Now' and 'The Frisco Kid'. Therefore, taking on another franchise role was a fitting choice for him during that period. While he undeniably made the character his own, it's heartening to see him publicly acknowledge the actor who was initially considered for the part, recognizing the alternate path in which the franchise could have proceeded.
'I think we've got a lot of ordinary heroes out there'
Ford has previously referred to 'Indiana Jones' as an "ordinary hero." When asked about the importance of ordinary heroes in cinema and culture today, Ford shared his perspective, saying, "I think we've got a lot of ordinary heroes out there. They just don't appear in movies all the time. I mean, it's a convention in drama… the unexpected hero, but I have always insisted that I really don't want to be characterized as playing heroes. I play archaeologists or heart surgeons, or, you know, presidents of the United States who get into a s**tstorm and decide to do something about it. But this film was more than that. I've just done a Marvel movie ['Captain America: Brave New World'], I know a hero when I see one. He's got a cape. He can fly or something like that. But this film is not about heroes [like that]," in an interview with Variety.
The seasoned actor continued, "At first, it's kind of black-and-white, because it's 1944. And then all of a sudden, we end that part with an escape from a situation. And we find ourselves a hard cut to 1969. And we see the same man, manifestly the same man, wake up in a New York tenement apartment, and you know, he's this lazy boy in his underwear with an empty glass in his hand. Because they're playing god damn rock 'n' roll music." Ford also revealed that it was his favorite scene in the movie, saying, "It was one of my favorite things I've ever done in a movie. And I did it to express his vulnerability and his age. Anyway, I think it's a great sequence in a damn good movie."
