For decades, James Bond and Steven Spielberg have been twin pillars of Hollywood entertainment. But few know that the director's early rejection from the 007 franchise directly led to one of cinema's most beloved adventure heroes: Indiana Jones. It's a classic Hollywood "what if" that turned a disappointment into a blockbuster legacy.
Spielberg's Bond Dream Dashed
Long before he became a household name, a young Spielberg was an ardent fan of the spy series and desperately wanted to direct a Bond film. However, the franchise's producers didn't see him as ready. "I went to one of the producers of James Bond… and I said, 'I'd love to direct a Bond film,'" Spielberg recalled in a 1998 interview. "They said: 'Well, you don't have enough experience for it - come back when you're older!'"
Instead of giving up, Spielberg turned to his friend George Lucas, who was developing a new project. "I used to tease George Lucas, I'd say: 'You know, what I really aspire to do is direct Sean Connery as Bond,'" Spielberg said. "George, one day — this is before Star Wars came out — he said: 'I've got something bigger, I've got something called Raiders.' He told me the story of Indiana Jones as a character, and I said: 'That's close enough!'"
From Rejection to Raiders
In 1981, that conversation became Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, a film that would launch a five-movie franchise and redefine the adventure genre. The parallels between Bond and Indy are unmistakable: both are globe-trotting heroes chasing powerful artifacts, both rely on quick wits and trademark weapons, and both have iconic theme music and thrilling cold opens. Indiana Jones is, in many ways, an American answer to 007—a university professor with a fear of snakes but a knack for derring-do.
The homage was especially clear in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), where Indy arrives at Club Obi-Wan in a white dinner jacket with a red flower—a direct nod to Sean Connery's Bond in Goldfinger. The scene's negotiation over a diamond, a poisoned drink, and a chaotic escape could easily belong in a Bond movie.
Full Circle: Sean Connery as Indy's Father
Spielberg's ultimate dream—to direct Sean Connery—finally came true in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), when the original 007 was cast as Henry Jones Sr., Indy's estranged father. The casting felt like destiny: Connery's Bond had inspired the entire franchise, and now he was playing the man who shaped the hero. Henry Jones Sr. was no mere sidekick; he proved clever and resourceful, often outwitting his son. For fans, it was the closest we'll ever get to a team-up between James Bond and Indiana Jones.
While it's fun to imagine what a Spielberg-directed Bond film might have looked like, that early rejection turned out to be a blessing. The Indiana Jones series has delighted generations with its humor, heart, and spectacle, earning a place alongside MI6's finest in the pantheon of Hollywood icons. For more on Spielberg's recent work, check out our review of Spielberg's 'Disclosure Day', and for other franchise origins, see Eiza González's failed Star Wars audition.
