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An Alternate Indiana Jones
by Zach Timmons, Steve
Payne and Arlena Arteaga Kelly
 Author
says: what if Tom Selleck was chosen for the part of Indiana Jones?
muses Zach Timmons. This
thread is based around the idea that Tom Selleck and not Harrison Ford
wins the role of Indiana Jones, thus sending their respective careers in
different directions. Please note that the opinions expressed in this post
do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s).
In 1980, Tom Selleck is
announced as the titular star of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost
Ark after months of negotiations.
Selleck had been originally chosen for the role, but was
forced to decline due to scheduling conflicts with the filming of Magnum
P.I.
However, a writer's strike delays production of the show
by over six months, giving Selleck an opportunity to do Raiders; after
obtaining Universal's permission, he speaks to director Steven Spielberg and
wins the role of the intrepid archaeologist.
The movie is a box-office smash, becoming one of the highest-grossing films
of all time and launching Selleck's career as a major Hollywood star, and is
followed by three sequels: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984),
Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade (1989), and Indiana Jones and the
Infernal Machine (1999), as well as the TV series The Young Indiana Jones
Chronicles.
In I981, the American
action-adventure film "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark"
premiered in cinemas across the United States. Directed by Steven Spielberg
and produced by George Lucas, the movie starred Tom Selleck in the leading
role.
Due to his critical success in the role, Selleck was
briefly considered for the part of Rick Deckard in the movie "Blade Runner".
Unable to make the transition to a role with more dramatic depth, he failed
the screen audition miserably.
Director Ridley Scott then turned to the surprise choice of English actor
Gordon Sumner (known as Sting) who had auditioned well for the part of the
replicant Roy Batty. His on-screen intensity delivered the part of Fayd
Rautha in the 1984 movie "Dune" followed by a string of other movies in the
SciFi mileau.
In 1993, planning begins on
the fourth Star Trek series, "Star Trek: Voyager". Centering on the
Federation starship USS Voyager and its attempt to return to the Alpha
Quadrant after being displaced 70,000 light years away in the Delta
Quadrant, the series will star Harrison Ford as Captain John Patrick "JP"
Nelson, Kate Mulgrew as First Officer Kathryn Janeway, and Robert Duncan
McNeill as Lt. Tom Paris.
In its seven year run, Voyager earns much critical
acclaim, as does Ford for his portrayal of Captain Nelson, haunted by his
past run-ins with the Borg. First introduced in the Star Trek: The Next
Generation episode "The Best of Both Worlds pt. 1" as a starship commander
who goes rogue following the Borg-caused deaths of his family, Nelson is
eventually captured and assimilated himself, only being rescued and cured by
his Academy classmate Jean-Luc Picard (who at one point, with tears in his
eyes, is forced to order the Enterprise to fire upon his old friend). The
episode consistently ranks as one of the best of any Star Trek series.
Author
says to view guest historian's comments please visit the
Today in Alternate History web site where this thread continues. The
idea of Sting playing Deckard was from Arlena Arteaga Kelly. The real story
from Wikipedia
reads: Selleck, after years of little interest, was cast as Thomas Magnum in
Magnum, P.I.. Magnum, P.I. producers would not release the actor and he had
to pass on the title role of Indiana Jones, which then went to Harrison
Ford. The decision of choosing the role of Indiana Jones vs. Magnum actually
haunted him so much that before making the decision, he consulted his best
friend on what to do. Together they came to the conclusion that honoring the
contract with Universal Studios was the honorable thing to do. It turned out
that the shooting of the pilot for Magnum was delayed for over six months
(due to a writers' strike) which would have enabled him to complete the role
as Indiana Jones.
A Selection of Other Contemporary
Stories
Zach Timmons and Arlena Arteaga Kelly Guest Historian of
Today in Alternate History, a Daily
Updating Blog of Important Events In History That Never Occurred Today.
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Imagine what would be, if history had occurred a bit
differently. Who says it didn't, somewhere? These fictional news items
explore that possibility. Possibilities such as America becoming a Marxist
superpower, aliens influencing human history in the 18th century and Teddy
Roosevelt winning his 3rd term as president abound in this interesting
fictional blog.
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