Anna Daniels
As for what Spielberg’s departure means for Indiana Jones 5, one has to start wondering if it will be made at all. The long-in-the-works movie has been dogged by production troubles since it was announced in 2016. The original release date for the Disney-produced Indiana Jones 5 was actually summer of 2019. Scheduling conflicts and other setbacks saw that date pushed to July 2020, with another premiere date shift coming when Jonathan Kasdan (son of Raiders scribe Lawrence) came aboard to overhaul the screenplay.
With Spielberg opting to “pass the whip,” it’s safe to assume Indiana Jones 5 will likely miss its rescheduled July 2021 premiere too. After all, even with Spielberg staying on as producer, it’ll no doubt take Mangold or any filmmaker a little time to get up to speed on the project.
If there’s good news for the Indiana Jones franchise in the wake of Steven Spielberg’s departure, it’s that screen icon Harrison Ford is apparently still on board to return as the titular adventurer-slash-archeologist. The actor recently hinted to HeyUGuys that production on the next flick was imminent, and that the Indy team was “determined to get it right before we get it made.” Of course, Ford himself (who turns 78 in July) is not getting any younger. If Indiana Jones 5 producers push the film’s release another year to get a new director up and running, he’ll be firmly on the doorstep of 80 by the time it goes before cameras — which leaves one to question how much longer he’ll be able to carry the load of the action-heavy franchise.
Frankly, it’s hard enough imagining an Indiana Jones movie sans Steven Spielberg or creator George Lucas (who has pretty much retired). We simply cannot see the franchise surviving if Harrison Ford ages out of the title role due to production delays.
Written by: Looper
