Steven Spielberg's Tintin

When did Spielberg buy the rights to Tintin? I have heard he had them in back in 1983. But it is told that he wanted to do a Tintin movie two years before that. How can that be possible when the first Indiana Jones came that year (1981) and Indy is based on Tintin? Hard to tell.
Around 1986 or something, Henry Thomas was a candidate to play Tintin. At least, that's what I've heard. Is it true? And why didn't Spielberg make his Tintin film back then?
For more than ten years, Leonardo DiCaprio has been linked to the role. Mostly because of his facial features. He looks the part more than Henry Thomas ever did. I wonder if Tom Cruise once was a rumour too? I think I remember reading about it.
And now, Bug Hall is the new suggestion for the role. What are your feedback on my post? Can he play the role better than most actors? How do you people imagine the character Tintin? Good-hearted, kind and nice to others? Or an annoying wanna-be hero with too much experience for him to handle for his young age?

Bug Hall is a fresh face, not too known and not too anonymous. It will be his breakthrough if he agrees to take the role.
Maybe the darker story set in Scotland, called "The Black Island", could be something to start off with. It has elements of mystery/horror, and could mark the start of a movie series. Of course it will be a franchise, if you didn't know that already.
I just wonder why Spielberg have decided not to direct it himself. He's a very big fan, why not let somebody else do that for him? He can't control so much of the style in the film if somebody like Richard Donner directs. But perhaps he's smart and pick someone who's not a strong director of his own but rather someone which will be an instrument for his own vision about the character. John Glen is someone who is talented enough do deliver a film without bringing in too many of his own "darlings". He just follow the studio's order.