THE NEXT ‘INDIANA JONES’ NEEDS NEXT-GENERATION HELP
A ‘young presence’ for film No. 5 likely to join Harrison Ford
A year ago the only discussion around Indiana Jones was which hot, young actor (hint: Chris Pratt) would be taking over the iconic role from Harrison Ford in feverish speculation over a potential franchise reboot. That was so 2015. In December, Ford showed the world he could recharge a mega-franchise as Han Solo in Star
Wars: The Force Awakens. Last week, Walt Disney Studios announced Ford and director Steven Spielberg will reunite for a fifth Indiana Jones film due in theaters July 19, 2019. But Ford will be 77 by the time the new film comes out, so youthful assistance will still be needed.
Just as young stars such as John Boyega, Daisy Ridley and Oscar Isaac put a youthful face on
Star Wars, that spirit will be needed for Indiana Jones 5. “The success of The Force
Awakens shows that you need a young presence as well as the beloved established characters,” says Dave Karger, chief correspondent for the movie site Fandango.com. “You know every Hollywood agent is on the horn, trying to get their young client in to meet with the Indiana Jones filmmakers.”
This is especially crucial after the Twitter-sphere spewed fake possible titles referencing Ford’s age after the casting announcement (for example: Indiana Jones & The Denny’s Senior Discount!).
With longtime Spielberg col-
laborator David Koepp announced as screenwriter on Friday, here are some possible youthful entry points: THE YOUNG SIDEKICK Ford has worked with younger co-stars ranging from a pint-sized sidekick, Short Round (then 12year-old Jonathan Ke Quan), in 1984’s Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom to full-fledged co-star Shia LaBeouf as Mutt Williams in 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
“Movie reality dictates another star on the bill, a modern star,” says Borys Kit, senior writer for
The Hollywood Reporter, adding just how big that role will be is questionable.
Kit still likes Pratt as a screen complement to Ford (“he’s one of the few people who has that mix of swagger and likability”). But casting could easily go non-traditional.
“Imagine Harrison Ford and Jennifer Lawrence together,” Kit says. “That would be awesome. I’d see that in heartbeat.” THE YOUNG INDY River Phoenix starred as the young Indiana Jones in 1989’s Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The possibility of flashbacks to a previous Indy and era in the new film is an appealing prospect, says Keith Simanton, senior film editor for the movie site IMDb. Ford’s true age will move Indiana Jones to the 1960s in the franchise timeline ( Crystal Skull was set in 1957). A flashback to a younger Indy would allow for a return to an earlier golden era for adventure.
“You need to have Indiana Jones with the 1930s mystique that was such an important element of Raiders,” Simanton says. THE PASSING OF THE FAMED FEDORA Spielberg attempted to pass the Indiana Jones torch with LaBeouf and had the young star symbolically pick up Jones’ fedora at the end of Crystal Skull. That didn’t work. Spielberg has vowed never again, saying in December, “I don’t think anyone could replace Harrison as Indy.”
Hollywood reality is another story.
“Clearly if this movie does well at the box office, you have to plan for a franchise future,” says Paul Dergarabedian, box office analyst for comScore. “With the right actor and the right creative team, market forces will come into play.”