'Indiana Jones 5': Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy says film is still in the works and it won't be a reboot
Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy confirmed during February 2's BAFTA event that 'Indiana Jones 5' is still in the works at the studio. The movie was initially scheduled for release in May 2020 and fans were beginning to think the project might be dead in the water.
Kennedy confirmed to BBC News that the film will not be a reboot and will instead continue the adventures of Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford), picking up some time after the events of the last movie 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'.
She also revealed that "Harrison Ford will be involved" and added that "he can't wait". Steven Spielberg is also returning to the director's chair for the film and ComicBook reports that he has stated previously, "There is only going to be one actor playing Indiana Jones and that's Harrison Ford."
Ford has also made similar statements in the past and suggested that Indy will die with him. "Nobody is going to be Indiana Jones," Ford replied when asked about the chances of the role going to someone else. "Don’t you get it? I’m Indiana Jones. When I'm gone, he's gone. It's easy."
Lucasfilm reportedly abandoned a script written by Jon Kasdan that would have tied the film's story to the Wałbrzych Gold Train, a Nazi train stocked with artifacts and heirlooms that went missing in a series of tunnels in Poland. David Koepp is reportedly working on the film's script instead.
Jones' son Mutt Williams / Henry Jones III, played by Shia LaBeouf in 'Kingdom of the Crystal Skull', will not return for the fifth movie. Production is expected to begin in April. However, no casting announcements beyond Ford's return as Jones have been made as of yet.
'Indiana Jones 5' is expected to arrive in theaters on July 10, 2021.