Indiana Jones 5: Frank Marshall reveals status of the James Mangold-directed sequel
Last February, Harrison Ford confirmed that production on the upcoming Indiana Jones 5 would be starting in a few months. However, plans quickly changed when it was suddenly announced that long-time Indiana Jones helmer Steven Spielberg had departed the project as the director with James Mangold (Logan) in negotiations to replace him. That’s why, many are wondering if this major setback could again delay the progress of Lucasfilm’s long-in development fifth installment.
Now, producer Frank Marshall has finally opened up about the project by revealing the current status. Speaking with Collider, Marshall has confirmed that James Mangold will indeed be taking over the directorial duties for Indiana Jones 5 and that they’ve just started writing on the script which is now under Mangold’s new creative direction.
“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.” the producer said on why Mangold was the best choice for the project.
He also addressed on when production will finally be able to begin especially given the world’s current situation right now. “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.
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It was announced in February that Steven Spielberg, who directed all of the previous Indiana Jones films, had exited the project as director but will remain as a producer, which is when negotiations with James Mangold to take over began.
Indiana Jones 5 has been in development since 2016 with Spielberg and Ford returning in their respective roles and an original theatrical release date set for July 19, 2019, but was constantly pushed back after multiple rewrites came from Jonathan Kasdan, son of Raiders of the Lost Ark writer Lawrence after original writer David Koepp exited the project.
Before Spielberg gave up his directing duties, the film was previously scheduled to begin its production within 2020. However, due to Spielberg’s exit and the ongoing global pandemic, production has been delayed to a much later date. The highly-anticipated sequel is now scheduled to be released on July 29, 2022.
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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.
