MovieChat Forums > Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Discussion > If not Harrison Ford (or Tom Selleck), w...

If not Harrison Ford (or Tom Selleck), who would you have picked to play Indy?


I did not realize the amount of actors whose names were being mentioned in regards to being cast as Indy. I feel like pretty much every admirer of this film knows that Tom Selleck was originally going to be Indy before Ford was chosen.
If you were tasked with casting an actor to play Indy, who would you have narrowed it down to/chosen?
(during the early 80s, not modern day)

For me, my definite choice would have been Sam Elliott. I did not know until very recently that his name was brought up as a choice to play Indy. Much like Ford, Sam Elliott is the type of actor who has a genuine element old school of grit/gumption in addition to being well-spoken and deeply articulate. A perfect balance and combination of brains and balls: the professor side mixed with the undaunted adventurer side.

Thoughts?

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Sam Elliott is too much of a cowboy to be Indiana Jones. Nope, it wouldn't work. Nor would Selleck.

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Selleck was the first choice.

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Then thank GOD things turned out the way they did, in this universe at least!

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David Warbeck gave it a shot in 1982 with Hunters of the Golden Cobra.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c_vXz65Yoeg&t=153s&pp=2AGZAZACAQ%3D%3D

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Shocking to see a video in such horrendous quality get so many views. If you want to pirate it anyway, at least get the bluray rip!

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It looks like it’s right off the VHS.

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Kurt Russell

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Who were the candidates? I only ever heard of Tom Selleck as the original choice.

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Jan-Michael Vincent.

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Definitely Jeff Bridges. At that time he was incredibly handsome, funny, and self-effacing.

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He auditioned for it (and he eventually worked with Karen Allen on Starman).

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Bruce Boxleitner who went on to star in Bring 'Em Back Alive thanks to the success of Raiders.

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William Hurt.

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