The Walt Disney StudiosLong time Indiana Jones star Harrison Ford has said no one else will ever play the iconic archaeology professor.
The 76-year-old first took on the role of Indiana Jones in 1981 with Raiders of the Lost Ark, and since then he has become a staple of the franchise.
His first appearance was followed swiftly by two sequels, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in 1984 and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade in 1989.
Take a look at him talking about the future of Indiana Jones here:
The fantastically action-packed three films were enough to make longtime fans, and even those born after the release of the movies became invested in the adventures of the archaeologist.
After almost two decades away from the role, Ford returned in 2008’s widely panned Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull before entering another long Indie-hiatus, but according to MovieWeb the fifth film is on track to make a 2021 release date, with Steven Spielberg directing.
Paramount PicturesFord has reportedly expressed his excitement to play the character again in the past, saying:
You know, an audience being there that has enjoyed the films, a character that has a history and a potential, kind of a rollicking good movie ride for the audience, Steven Spielberg as a director – what’s not to like?
Comicbook report there have been persistent rumours that Disney and Lucasfilm might try to reboot the action franchise with a new, younger leading man, but after spending years as the face of Jones, Ford seems confident no one will follow in his footsteps.
GettyIn an interview with NBC’s Today, the actor implied he and the character are so wrapped up together that it would be impossible for anyone else to take on the role in the future.
When asked who he would want to play Indie after him, the 76-year-old explained:
Don’t you get it? I’m Indiana Jones. When I’m gone, he’s gone. It’s easy.
However, it seems the film’s director has other ideas as Spielberg believes Indiana Jones will continue even after Ford hangs up his hat.
Paramount PicturesSpeaking to The Sun, the director said it is time the explorer took ‘a different form’, and nodded when asked if the role could be taken on by a woman.
He added:
This will be Harrison Ford’s last Indiana Jones movie, I am pretty sure, but it will certainly continue after that.
With the fifth Indiana Jones movie still in the works, Ford has plenty of time to enjoy having adventures as the explorer, but we’ll have to wait and see if anyone steps into his shoes once he’s finished!
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Emily Brown first began delivering important news stories aged just 13, when she launched her career with a paper round. She graduated with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University, and went on to become a freelance writer and blogger. Emily contributed to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems before becoming a journalist at UNILAD, where she works on breaking news as well as longer form features.