For the past 40 years, Indiana Jones has been an absolute icon of the silver screen. Over four films, we’ve seenHarrison Fordgo on all kinds of globe-trotting adventures as a hat-wearing, whip-wielding, snake-hating professor who just wants artifacts to stay in their damn museums. And now, thanks to our own Christina Radish’s exclusive interview with producerFrank Marshall(a formative creative voice in all fourIndyfilms) for the upcoming documentaryLaurel Canyon, we have an update on howIndiana Jones 5is going.
Currently scheduled to be released by Disney in2022,Indy 5originally hadSteven Spielbergreturning to direct Ford. Since then, we’ve learned that Spielberg has stepped away to allowJames Mangold(Logan) to take over directorial duties, the first time anyone other than Spielberg has directed anIndyfilm. Marshall explained why Mangold was the ideal choice to take over for Spielberg: “His love of the franchise. He’s a wonderful filmmaker. I think he also has a relationship with Harrison. It was all of the right pieces coming together, at the right time.” I must agree with Mr. Marshall – I think Mangold is an expert at twisting old-fashioned genres and tropes with just enough postmodern intrigue to result in comforting yet challenging Hollywood movies. And for those who are still worried about Spielberg’s exit, fear not: “Steven is staying on as a producer, so we’ve got the best of everything.”
How is the writing process ofIndy 5going, though? Marshall, somewhat surprisingly, put it simply: “It just started.” I know there’s been a lot of delays on the film’s production and release dates, but I still would’ve thought Marshall and his crew would’ve began scripting some time ago. Perhaps this is an indication that Mangold is taking things in a new creative direction. Perhaps Disney didn’t want to start anything until the coronavirus of it all felt more stable. Or, perhaps, they greenlit everything without a script and are just now getting to it. Either way, don’t expect production onIndy 5to begin anytime soon, especially as it relates to the coronavirus:
The number one thing, obviously, is the safety of everybody – the cast, the crew, and all of us. So, we’re looking at the guidelines that are coming slowly, from the health experts and the studios and the different parts of the business, and we’re just trying to incorporate everything, so we can move forward and be safe. It’s going to obviously slow things down, so we’re trying to adjust. You won’t see a lot of big crowd scenes, for example, for awhile. There won’t be any more craft service, so maybe that’ll be good for people, in keeping more fit. It’s a moving target right now. There are a lot of people working on the solutions, to be able to work and be safe.
Marshall also revealed that he’s looking to restart another franchise about a globe-trotting American agent:Bourne, baby.Matt Damonstarred in four films as the amnesiac spy Jason Bourne, who slowly learns what’s going on around him, and how good he is at punching people. They tried to soft reboot away from Damon already with theJeremy Renner-starringThe Bourne Legacy. Now, Marshall is keen on it again, with different creative teams than the original: “I do like theBourneseries, and I do think that’s an opportunity for different filmmakers to come in now. So, I’m hoping that we can find a new story forBourneand a new filmmaker. We are looking.”
For more from Marshall, here’s his update on theJurassic Worldfranchise– and be sure to look out for our full interview with him soon. And for more on Professor Jones, here’s our own Vinnie Mancuso praisingThe Kingdom of the Crystal Skull– err, the first 15 minutes, anyway.
