Harrison Ford may have achieved a great many things throughout his long and decorated career, but there’s no question that the actor owes his star status to two roles in particular: Han Solo and Indiana Jones. Lending a sense of swagger and wise-cracking humor to both characters, few could imagine either part being played by anyone else in a feature film, and Steven Spielberg even went so far as to say that he considers Harrison Ford irreplaceable as the famed archaeologist.
As rumors regarding a potential Indiana Jones 5 begin to intensify, Spielberg spoke with Screen International and effectively shot down reports that Lucasfilm has planned to recast the title part, claiming that he doesn’t think “anyone could replace Harrison as Indy.”
[zerg]It aligns with what Disney producer Frank Marshall had to say on the matter, who rubbished claims that anyone but Ford would be donning the whip and fedora for a potential fifth installment. Unperturbed by the negative reaction of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Spielberg is clearly keen to get back on the saddle.
“I don’t think anyone could replace Harrison as Indy,” he said. “It’s certainly not my intention to have another actor step into his shoes in the way there have been many actors that have played Spider-Man or Batman. There is only going to be one actor playing Indiana Jones and that’s Harrison Ford.”
While some fans would have welcomed a new approach – for instance, Chris Pratt was once linked with the part – it appears that a franchise reboot is off the table for the foreseeable future. Indeed, Harrison Ford himself is eager to reprise his role as the inimitable archaeologist, revealing to Entertainment Weekly just last week that:
“Yeah, I’d love to do another Indiana Jones. A character that has a history and a potential, kind of a rollicking good movie ride for the audience, Steven Spielberg as a director — what’s not to like?”
It would seem that the stars have aligned for Indiana Jones 5, and all that’s left is for Disney and Lucasfilm to issue the green light for another entry into the adventure franchise. But can it really gloss over the disappointment of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull? Time will tell.