Continuation of Indiana Jones Franchise Possible without Harrison Ford, According to Producer
Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones embarks on his ultimate adventure in Dial of Destiny — but could the iconic franchise make the leap to television? Ford has officially confirmed that the upcoming fifth film will be “the final installment in the series, marking my last portrayal of the character.” In a recent interview, he expressed that Dial of Destiny would likely be the last appearance of the archaeologist adventurer on the big screen. However, drawing inspiration from the Star Wars franchise, another prominent Lucasfilm IP that successfully transitioned to television, Indiana Jones may have a future in the form of a Disney+ series.
According to Lucasfilm president and Dial of Destiny producer Kathleen Kennedy, “This is Harrison’s final contribution to the Indy franchise. That’s how we see it.” Kennedy shared her thoughts on the Dagobah Dispatch podcast, adding, “To be honest, if we were to explore any future endeavors, it would potentially be in the realm of a television series, but we have no plans to replace Indiana Jones. This is the end.”
Kennedy emphasized the unique and irreplaceable nature of Harrison Ford’s portrayal of the character, echoing the sentiments of director Steven Spielberg. “We have to respect the five movies that Harrison Ford has brought to life,” she stated. “Harrison’s performance is so distinctive and integral to the creation of this role that we, along with Steven, believe it would be inappropriate to continue without him.”
Earlier reports suggested that an Indiana Jones spin-off series was in development for Disney+, following the success of the streaming service’s Willow sequel series. However, recent news indicates that the untitled Indiana Jones spin-off show, which was planned to be a prequel focusing on Indy’s mentor, Abner Ravenwood, has been canceled. The series was intended to delve into the character’s backstory, set before the events of 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark and centered around the life of the late Egyptologist and archaeologist.
Ford addressed the rumors surrounding the potential series in an interview with Total Film, stating that he will not be involved “if it does come to fruition.” After a span of 15 years since his last outing in 2008’s Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Ford is bidding farewell to the whip and fedora for good with Dial of Destiny.
“I’ve been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to make this film for a decade, and finally, the time came when we all committed to it. It was an incredibly gratifying moment for me,” Ford shared with the magazine. “I consider myself fortunate to have contributed to the incredible films crafted by Steven and George [Lucas] over the course of 40 years, and concluding the journey with a bang, not a whimper, has always been my greatest aspiration for this endeavor.”
Beginning May 31st, the first four Indiana Jones films, as well as the prequel TV series The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones, will be available for streaming on Disney+. Starring Harrison Ford, alongside Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, John Rhys-Davies, Shaunette Renee Wilson, Thomas Kretschmann, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Oliver Richters, Ethann Isidore, and Mads Mikkelsen, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will exclusively hit theaters on June 30th.
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