Harrison Ford Almost Wasn't Harrison Ford — Here's Every Time The Universe Almost Picked Someone Else

Indiana Jones Was Supposed To Be Tom Selleck. Yes, Really.

Steven Spielberg and George Lucas actually offered the whip and fedora to Tom Selleck first, loving his screen test enough to hold the role for him for over a month. The catch? CBS had just locked him into a little show called Magnum, P.I. and refused to let him out of it, so the part fell to Ford — who has publicly thanked Selleck for being 'grateful' the timing worked out the way it did.

Han Solo Almost Didn't Happen Because Lucas Only Wanted Him As A Reader

George Lucas was so committed to casting unknowns for Star Wars that he initially refused to consider Ford — his own American Graffiti actor — for Han Solo, instead just using him to read lines opposite other actors auditioning for Luke. Ford ended up playing Solo's side of the scene so many times, against so many hopefuls, that Lucas eventually admitted there was 'no question about who was the best.'

Blade Runner's Deckard Was Dustin Hoffman's First — Before Everyone Realized It Wasn't A Fit

Fresh off his Kramer vs. Kramer Oscar, Dustin Hoffman spent months attached to Blade Runner as Rick Deckard, until creative differences over the character's macho streak led to his exit. Ford landed the part largely because Ridley Scott and producer Michael Deeley watched early Raiders of the Lost Ark footage and decided on the spot that they'd found their new leading man.

Jack Ryan Belonged To Alec Baldwin First — And He Never Really Got Over Losing Him

Alec Baldwin originated Jack Ryan in The Hunt for Red October, but a bitter contract standoff with a Paramount executive over sequel terms opened the door for Ford to swoop in for Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger. Baldwin later called Ford 'scrawny' in his memoir and claimed Ford's reaction to taking the role was less than gracious — a Hollywood grudge that's lasted decades.

Air Force One Was Kevin Costner's Script First — He Handed It Over Himself

Before he was growling 'Get off my plane,' Ford wasn't even attached to Air Force One — the script belonged to Kevin Costner, who passed due to scheduling conflicts and specifically told producers he'd only step aside if Ford could take over. Costner went off to make The Postman instead, which flopped, while Ford's turn as an action-hero president became one of the defining roles of his later career.