Exclusive: John Rhys-Davies Talks Indy 5!
The next Indiana Jones film is coming from Lucasfilm, but will fan favorite character Sallah be along for the ride? During a conversation with Welsh actor John Rhys-Davies (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Shannara Chronicles) about the upcoming release of lost horror classic Grizzly II: Revenge from Gravitas Ventures on January 8, we asked the jovial thesp if he will be back. While he stopped short of complete confirmation, he did raise our hopes and confirmed a May start date for filming!
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“I understand the film is going to be made, allegedly in May,” Rhys-Davies told us. “I have the slightest skepticism that the world will be able to shoot a movie like that in May. I suppose it is possible that I will be asked to be in it. If nominated I will serve! (laughs) But I think we ought to wait a little bit longer and, you know, let our masters actually make announcements and then you can either share my joy or my disappointment. Is that suitably diplomatic?”
The character of Sallah Mohammed Faisel el-Kahir appeared in both the original Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and it’s second sequel Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). Rhys-Davies reportedly turned down a small cameo in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Do you want to see the great bearded Egyptian excavator return? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned for our full interview with Rhys-Davies shortly!
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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 on as a producer. Oscar winner James Mangold (Ford v Ferrari, Logan) will direct this new installment set to conclude the franchise, which will arrive on July 29, 2022.
Indiana Jones 5 has been in development since 2016 and originally had Ford returning for a 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, once original writer David Koepp exited the project.
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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.
