It’s almost impossible now to consider someone else playing the role of T-800 in the Terminator franchise other than Arnold Schwarzenegger now but things were a bit different in the 80s when a dozen of actors were considered for the role before the Austrian-American bodybuilder finally took up the role of cyborg assassin and went on to make 5 movies.
According to sources, the popular FRIENDS star, Tom Selleck allegedly also turned down the role of T-800 in the Terminator franchise.
Tom Selleck was also considered for the role of T-800 in the Terminator franchise before Arnold Schwarzenegger
Tom Selleck was one of the most famous actors in the 80s and was, therefore, considered for a lot of famous roles which eventually went to other stars and they made a great name for themselves. The American actor was allegedly also considered for the role of T-800 in the Terminator franchise before it eventually went to Arnold Schwarzenegger.
According to sources, Tom Selleck was inclined to play the role of the popular cyborg assassin in the Terminator franchise but was forced to turn down the role because of clashing filming schedules with Selleck’s crime drama series, Magnum P.I.
Tom Selleck also went on to receive 5 Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his portrayal of Thomas Sullivan Magnum in Magnum P.I.
The Lassiter actor was also considered for the role of Indiana Jones
It seems like Tom Selleck turned down a lot of famous roles for his portrayal of Thomas Sullivan Magnum in Magnum P.I. Before turning down the role that eventually went to Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Terminator franchise, Selleck allegedly also turned down the role of Indiana Jones back in 1981. Harrison Ford recently talked in an interview about he got the role of the popular archeologist in the Raiders of the Lost Ark movie for the first time and talked about how he had no idea that will be playing the role for almost 4 decades. He said,
“As far as I knew it was a one-off and I read a script that George Lucas asked me to read and it was a script for the Raiders of the Lost Ark and I didn’t know that it was a script that someone else had read and was unable to take the job of Indiana Jones because of a contract, Tom Selleck and I was enthusiastic to work with Steven [Spielberg]. I mean, I didn’t really have my head around anything but that job at work right there. I never thought of continuing on to make a four films over 42 years now.”
Despite turning down a lot of iconic roles in the industry, Tom Selleck eventually did make it big in Hollywood after he landed his first leading role back in 1983 when he portrayed the role of Patrick O’Malley in the movie, High Road to China back in 1983.
Source: Not Starring and Yahoo Entertainment
