The role Sean Connery refused to reprise: “Not that generous a part”
Actors have to go through many trials by fire to attain the North Star-esque glow in Hollywood. But once they settle down, it’s only onwards and upwards. While blood and sweat are a given in whichever profession you seek your career ladder to grow, the trait that sets Tinseltown apart from the rest is the leniency of retirement. However, Sean Connery, the first onscreen James Bond, turned down a role back in the day, despite the prospect of stepping out of retirement.
Connery’s golden arc in Hollywood needs no introduction. Yet, his departure from showbiz has always been a topic of the town. His last industry stint was Stephen Norrington’s critically subpar The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, infamous for its messy and stressful production. Connery and Norrington were at variance throughout the production, and the impact dealt a devastating toll on the film, ultimately leading to Connery’s self-imposed exile from Hollywood.
But someone had it in them to make the James Bond actor pick up the call after all this time, and it was Steven Spielberg. At the time, the fourth instalment of Indiana Jones was in development, which would eventually become Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and Spielberg reached out to Connery to return as Henry Jones Sr.
By the time the filmmaker was trying to get erstwhile 007 out of retirement, it had already been four years since his exit. Speculations were abundant that he was too busy enjoying his time off and away. But was it alone the reason that he refused the offer? Perhaps not. In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter in 2007, Connery revealed having talked with Spielberg about the role. Unfortunately, “it didn’t work out”.
“It was not that generous a part, worth getting back into the harness and go for,” the actor explained. Henry was shot in The Last Crusade by Donovan. However, the Holy Grail eventually revived him. But the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull confirmed that Henry had passed away after the events of The Last Crusade.
Speaking to the tabloid, the latter explained that the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull had already taken a different course where Indy’s father was not as pivotal. “I had suggested they kill him in the movie; it would have taken care of it better,” he added. And ultimately, such a thing did happen, in order to explain Henry’s absence.
At the moment, it did seem like Connery wouldn’t be back for more and had nothing to look back on in Hollywood. In a way, he did partially return to lend his voice to Sir Billi for the titular character in 2012. But if you want to catch him in action onscreen, the first four Indiana Jones films are currently streaming on Netflix UK.