With Spielberg returning to direct, Ford back as Indiana, George Lucas as Executive Producer, and John Williams returning to compose, the film is taking its time to ensure the formula and the story are just right for the professor’s return to our screens. This Is Us writer, Dan Fogelman, is penning the script – with David Koepp and Jonathan Kasdan (son of Raiders of the Lost Ark writer, Lawrence Kasdan) having already turned in drafts that were ultimately rejected.
The film was initially set for us to see Shia LaBeouf’s character take the reins from Indiana Jones by the end of the fourth instalment, but production and LaBeouf himself have shot down the rumours, while Karen Allen, who plays Indiana’s wife, Marion Ravenwood, is hoping to return to the series. One thing that is cemented in the production company’s minds is that Indy 5 won’t be a one-off and that – like Star Wars and James Bond – the series will likely continue to see what an Indiana Jones of the 2020s would look like.
Today it has been 24 years, 6 months, 2 weeks and 5 days since Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was released! #TT pic.twitter.com/RhkZm4l5zG
— Indiana Jones (@IndianaJones) December 12, 2013
Do we need another Indiana Jones film?
One question that many people are asking is whether we actually need another Indiana Jones film or not. While some fans would rather remember the original trilogy as the great retro cinematic experience it is, others enjoy the prospect of the very same aspects of nostalgia that is set to be introduced to the 2021 sequel.
It’s fair to say that the legacy of Indiana Jones goes far beyond the Hollywood film industry. For example, the Elysium Waterpark is tipped to come to Bournemouth and will be inspired by Indiana Jones, featuring everything you’d expect from an indoor water park with added saunas, steam rooms, and spa elements.
Then there’s the abundance of Indy-inspired games found both on console and online. You can even play Egyptian slots at RegalWins.com that take inspiration from the idea of raiding pyramids and tombs for their hidden treasures, while also featuring archaeological themes, heavily based on the antics of Indiana Jones. Then there’s the extremely popular Lego Indiana Jones series, to the classic mobile game Temple Run – where you are chased by a giant boulder – which is also channelling the franchise’s aesthetic, with the boulder itself becoming synonymous with archaeology, exploring, and adventure.
Indiana Jones has left a lasting impression on cinemagoers, so many are concerned that a new instalment may water down the impact of the franchise. Others, however, are eager to see what a septuagenarian may bring to the role of the most valiant explorer and how Indiana Jones might fit into our modern expectations of what makes a good adventure film. One thing is for sure: whether the film succeeds or flops, Professor Indiana Jones has already made his mark on entertainment and on our cultural tapestry.
