Despite rumors that Chris Pratt could take over the role of Indiana Jones in the future, the actor has dismissed the idea.
Reboots of long-running popular franchises have always been contentious, especially regarding Harrison Ford’s iconic character Indiana Jones.
Before Ford’s return for the yet-to-be-titled Indiana Jones 5, there were rumors of a franchise reboot, with a new actor taking on the role of the daring archaeology professor.
Those rumors resurfaced in early 2021, with one centering star of the moment, Chris Pratt, in the running of Lucasfilm, decided to restart the franchise after Harrison Ford’s final appearance.
However, Pratt has debunked those rumors, admitting that a quote from Ford scared him off the role.
Chris Pratt has had a very successful year, continuing to play a significant role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Jurassic World series, his show The Terminal List, and voice roles in the highly anticipated animation reboots of Super Mario Bros. and Garfield.
Although it wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume that he might be considered an Indiana Jones replacement, he stated on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that he has no desire to play the part and be “haunted by the ghost of Harrison Ford.”
He stated: Even Steven Spielberg is unknown to me. Who? Who is Steven? Are they not filming “Indiana Jones” with Harrison Ford? I don’t even know if that was Harrison Ford, but I once saw a quote that said, “When I die, Indiana Jones dies,” and that was all I remember. And I’m thinking, “If I play…, will I one day be haunted by the ghost of Harrison Ford after he passes away?”
Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones, and It Appears That He Will Remain So
Nobody can play a character forever, and given his advanced age, Ford is well aware that this will be his final appearance as Indiana Jones.
Although it would typically prompt studios to look for new talent to play a character in the future, Kathleen Kennedy from Lucasfilm has already stated that the role won’t be recast.
Harrison Ford has made it clear how he feels about the issue. Ford remarked, “I’m Indiana Jones,” in the quotation from his appearance on Today back in 2019 that Pratt used in his remarks. He disappears as I go. It’s simple.
Of course, that could change in a few decades, but for the time being, Indiana Jones’ legacy appears to be safe from the dreaded Hollywood reboot machine.
Indiana Jones 5 has been delayed several times due to Covid pandemics and injuries to its lead star, but its release date appears to have been set for June 30, 2023.
While the long delay may be a concern, this summer’s Top Gun: Maverick demonstrated that good things do come to those who wait, and fans will be hoping that is the case with Harrison Ford’s final appearance as Indiana Jones.
What is the Release Date for Indiana Jones 5?
The release date for Indiana Jones 5, rumored to be called Indy, is currently set for June 30, 2023. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the series’s final installment, was released in 2008 and concluded with Jones marrying Marion (Karen Allen).
The plot of the fifth film has not yet been revealed, but behind-the-scenes photos show what some fans believe to be a Roman gladiator outfit.
Ford has been busy despite not playing Jones for more than ten years. He reprised his prominent role as Rick Deckard in the 2017 Blade Runner 2049. He played Han Solo once more in Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015 and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in 2019.
Along with Ford, Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Hannibal’s Mads Mikkelsen, Stalingrad’s Thomas Kretschmann, Uncharted’s Antonio Banderas, Narcos’ Boyd Holbrook, The Resident’s Shaunette Renée Wilson, Jurassic World’s Toby Jones, and Black Widow’s Olivier Richters will appear in Indiana Jones 5. Edge of Tomorrow writers Jez and John-Henry Butterworth wrote the screenplay.