In “please don’t let this go sideways” news, Walt Disney Studios announced today that Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg are reuniting for a fifth stab at the Indiana Jones franchise, with a new Indy film set to release on July 19, 2019. Rumors that Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic World, Parks & Recreation) or Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook, The Hangover, Guardians of the Galaxy) would take over Dr. Jones’ signature fedora and bullwhip swirled about the Internet for months before being put to rest.
And while the date and the Ford and Spielberg’s involvement are precisely the only tidbits of information we know for sure, many of us are crossing our toes, eyes, and fingers that we won’t have have another situation on our hands like Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the fourth Indiana Jones movie, which nuked the fridge in grand fashion. I’m hopeful that Disney, Spielberg, and Ford have learned the lessons of that last film and try to avoid that rolling ball of doom (and other puns). Hopefully, Shia LaBeouf, who also starred in Crystal Skull, will be otherwise indisposed doing arty projects like marathon viewings of his own films to participate in this new installment.
Indiana Jones and Title TBD, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Harrison Ford, will hit theaters on July 19, 2019.
From the official press release:
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.