Update: David Koepp (Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) has been hired to write the screenplay, THR reports.
After successfully relaunching the Star Wars franchise last year, Kathleen Kennedy can now shift her focus to another long-gestating return: Indiana Jones. Disney have set the series’ fifth iteration to open on July 19, 2019, with Harrison Ford (who will be 77 upon release) set to return in role — just after he finishes up his return to the world of Blade Runner. Aside from Steven Spielberg returning to direct, there are no other details on the cast or plot, but fans can breathe a bit easy: George Lucas and Shia LaBeouf are mentioned nowhere in the press release, which can be read below.
Indiana Jones will return to the big screen on July 19, 2019, for a fifth epic adventure in the blockbuster series. Steven Spielberg, who directed all four previous films, will helm the as-yet-untitled project with star Harrison Ford reprising his iconic role. Franchise veterans Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall will produce.
“Indiana Jones is one of the greatest heroes in cinematic history, and we can’t wait to bring him back to the screen in 2019,” said Alan Horn, Chairman, The Walt Disney Studios. “It’s rare to have such a perfect combination of director, producers, actor and role, and we couldn’t be more excited to embark on this adventure with Harrison and Steven.”
Famed archaeologist and explorer Indiana Jones was introduced in 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark – one of AFI’s 100 Greatest American Films of All Time – and later thrilled audiences in 1984’s Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, 1989’s Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The four films have brought in nearly $2 billion at the global box office.
As we await more details, check out Spielberg’s talk about the franchise at the Cinerama Dome a few years back.
What do you want to see in a new Indy movie?