Tom Selleck Recalls ‘Complicated’ Dilemma That Led to Passing on“ Indiana Jones ”Role (Exclusive)

In his new memoir, 'You Never Know,' the iconic 'Magnum, P.I.' star reflects on having to choose between two stellar roles

Tom Selleck never set out to become an actor, he tells PEOPLE. But as the star, 79, reflects on his five-decade career in Hollywood, it's clear the path was the right one for the ruggedly handsome heartthrob.

It all started with Pepsi. Selleck was attending the University of Southern California on a full basketball scholarship while majoring in business administration when he lucked into his first acting gig — portraying a basketball player in a Pepsi commercial. He later got tapped as a bachelor on The Dating Game and appeared on The Young and the Restless before landing his breakout role in Magnum, P.I.

“It is really the story of an accidental career,” he insists. “I’d never taken an acting class. I had no training, no desire.”

In his new memoir, You Never Know (out May 7 from Dey Street Books), he explores that journey and what it taught him.

“[Acting] is a lot about failing, endless failures,” he explains. “If you’re going to get in the acting business, you better get an appetite for it. And I tried to communicate that... Because it was kind of a long road.”

Related: Tom Selleck Wants to 'Share the Ride' in Upcoming Memoir You Never Know — See the Cover Reveal (Exclusive)

Part of that road included reading for the lead role in Raiders of the Lost Ark — while he was waiting to hear whether his Magnum, P.I. pilot would work out.

Below, read all about it in an exclusive excerpt from You Never Know:

For more on Selleck, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, or subscribe here.

When I walked into the room for the audition, it was just those two guys: Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. I didn't feel particularly nervous. 

I was a big Star Wars fan, so I'm certain I brought that up. On my drive home, I thought, Boy, that was pretty cool, no pressure, and having a face-to-face with two people whose work I love. And what a great diversion it was from my preoccupation with the outcome of my [Magnum] pilot.

He’s called to read for the lead, but isn’t allowed to see the script or test pages ahead of time.

I got there, and Steven was quick to greet me, gave me the pages for the test, told me not to worry and to take all the time I needed. There was wardrobe waiting for me. The hat and leather jacket helped me understand the period. 

When I drove home, my head was full of thoughts. They're testing a lot of people, What if Magnum sells? What if it doesn't sell? This is the lead in the next big franchise after Star Wars, so the process is going to be a long one. So many good things were presenting themselves.

"We want you to play Indiana Jones."

I think it was Steven who told me. George had always been kinda quiet. Always thinking, taking things in. But I think I detected at least the hint of a smile on his face.

Look, I don't have a clue how I responded. I hope at least I said thank you.

They handed me the script, and Steven said, "Read it, and then tell us what you think."

I sat down and turned over the title page. Around page eight my guard just dissolved. Oh, s---... this is terrific. It was the part where Indy is being chased by a huge round boulder rolling down the hill after him. I was reminded of when I rode my bike to the La Reina Theatre on Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks and watched the Saturday-matinee movie serials for 25 cents. And, of course, it reminded me of the crawl at the beginning of Star Wars.

Related: Harrison Ford Thanks Tom Selleck for Turning Down Indiana Jones Role Over 4 Decades Ago

The whole movie was right there on the page in front of me.

All of this was going to be, how do I put it, complicated. Extremely complicated. But hey, I had George Lucas and Steven Spielberg on my side. And, of course, I had my trusted A-team in place, Skip and Bettye.

He ended up having to turn down the role because Magnum P.I. was sold to CBS and ready to start shooting. The role of Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark went to Harrison Ford.

From You Never Know by Tom Selleck. Copyright © 2024 by Thomas Selleck. Excerpted by permission of Dey Street Books, an imprint ofHarperCollins Publishers.

You Never Know comes out from Dey Street Books on May 7 and is available for preorder now, wherever books are sold.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.