'Indiana Jones 5': Steven Spielberg won't direct the movie and fans aren't sure it should be made without him
The future of 'Indiana Jones 5' has become a bit uncertain after Steven Spielberg stepped down from the director's chair for the film. However, that doesn't mean the project is dead in the water as a new director is already in talks to take the job.
Spielberg served as the director for all four 'Indiana Jones' movies that have been released so far. The veteran filmmaker will reportedly remain with the project as a producer.
Sources say that while a deal hasn't closed yet, 'Ford v Ferrari' director James Mangold is currently in talks to take over the job, according to a Variety report.
A source close to Spielberg said that the decision to leave the position of director was entirely Spielberg's, in a desire to make way for a new generation to bring their perspective to Indy's epic story.
According to Variety, this isn't the first time Mangold has had to step into the director's chair at the last minute. He found himself in a similar situation when he took over the 'Wolverine' franchise.
Seeing as 2017’s 'Logan' grossed $619 million globally and earned Mangold an Oscar nomination for adapted screenplay, there's still hope that 'Indiana Jones 5' might do well too.
Ever since the news broke, fans have been taking to Twitter to discuss the move and what it might mean for the movie. Quite a few fans seem to think the fifth movie is unnecessary, especially now that Spielberg won't be directing.
"The only reason to continue with 'Indiana Jones 5' without Spielberg would be that Lucasfilm only convinced Harrison Ford to do 'The Force Awakens' under the condition that he gets another Indy," one of the fans tweeted. "Considering where Crystal Skull left off, I'd say just let it die, but maybe they can't."
Another fan wrote, "There's not much point in going ahead with Indy 5 if Steven Spielberg won't direct it."
In fact, one of the fans suggested that the franchise should have just ended with the third movie 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade'. They wrote, "Indiana Jones 5? What do you mean? Indy rode off into the sunset with his Dad, Sallah and Marcus Brody. FIN."
Some fans also do think Spielberg stepping down might be a good thing, especially because of how badly the fourth movie 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' was received.
"Good. #Spielberg telephoned his directing in with #KingdomOfTheCrystalSkull," one fan wrote on Twitter. "#IndianaJones5 needs to go out on a high. If #Indy4 was #HarrisonFord's #Rocky V, hopefully, #Indy5 will be his #RockyBalboa (Rocky 6)."
"James Mangold is the right person for a movie that probably shouldn't be made to begin with," another fan commented. "I still have very mixed feelings about Indy 5."
'Indiana Jones 5' doesn't have an official title yet but it is expected to be released on July 9, 2021.