Given the nature of action-adventure franchises, we all knew it was only a matter of time until there was another installment in the Indiana Jones series. Not even The Crystal Skull – which was widely (and rightly) considered a complete dud – was enough to nail the Ark shut for good.
Still, it was unclear whether or not Harrison Ford would ever don the fedora and bullwhip again; the man is 73, after all.
Rumors abounded that Indy was ripe for rebooting. There were murmurs of Chris Pratt, everyone’s favorite office schlub-turned-action hero, taking over the iconic role in a prequel, straight reboot, or as Indy’s son.
(I’m still not adverse to this idea: Pratt is a likeable guy on and off screen, and I have no doubt he’d do a stupendous job. He can certainly rock the grizzled stubble, squinty stare, and leather jacket that go part and parcel with Dr. Jones.)
But we’ve since gotten confirmation that Ford will indeed be returning to the screen as everyone’s favorite extreme archaeologist. And more than that, Spielberg has promised us the following:
“I think this one is straight down the pike for the fans. The one thing I will tell you is I’m not killing off Harrison at the end of it.”
So it looks like Indy’s going to live to see the end credits again. But this still could end up being Ford’s last adventure in the role – perhaps those Pratt rumors may end up true after all…
Here’s hoping that Indiana Jones 5 is a bit more Last Crusade and a lot less Crystal Skull.
