With Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny around the corner, it will end Harrison Ford’s run as the iconic character, and it’s impossible to imagine anyone as the charming archaeologist other than Ford. However, it’s surprising to see that the Star Wars star wasn’t the first choice for the role, as the studios initially doubted the actor’s ability to lead a big-budget movie on his own.
Among the several A-listers, who were initially considered to take the iconic gig and lead the billion-dollar franchise, one of the most notable names was the Academy Award winner Jack Nicholson.
Jack Nicholson was the initial choice for the role of Indiana Jones
Entering the 80s, Jack Nicholson was one of the most celebrated stars in Hollywood following his incredible performances in several critically acclaimed films. including Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. And considering his immense star power at the time, it’s reasonable to see why he was one of the frontrunners for the role. But it’s kind of hard to imagine Nicholson as the charming and muscular Jones, as he was widely known for playing more intense characters at the time.
But in the end, Nicholson declined the offer and Ford eventually landed the role in Raiders of the Lost Ark, which would spawn a plethora of sequels in the coming years and cement Ford into the top. However, with the Dial of Destiny inching toward its release, which will now end Ford’s run as the iconic character, the franchise might keep on moving forward without him at the center.
The Indiana Jones franchise might continue to expand without Harrison Ford
Although it’s impossible to imagine an Indiana Jones project without Harrison Ford, it’s quite likely that in the coming years, we will witness the franchise expanding and moving forward without him. Reflecting on the topic, the Lucasfilm president and the Dial of Destiny producer, Kathleen Kennedy, expressed that they have ideas about expanding the franchise in the medium of TV in the future. But she expressed that they’re not looking forward to replacing Ford’s Indiana Jones by stating,
“It’s Harrison’s last entry. That’s how we look at the Indy franchise, I mean, truthfully, right now, if we were to do anything, it might be in series television down the road, but we’re not doing anything to replace Indiana Jones. This is it.”
Although it would have been cool to witness Nicholson’s interpretation of the character, considering that this role cemented Ford to the top, it did become a blessing in disguise for the fans.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will hit theatres on 30 June 2023.
Source: Moviefone
