Steven Spielberg makes a clear statement: Indiana Jones will survive next movie

By Rick Marshall Published June 15, 2016

Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. — Lucasfilm

All of the pieces are falling into place for the next installment of the Indiana Jones franchise, but director Steven Spielberg isn’t afraid to play spoiler when it comes to one particular question on fans’ minds.

Given franchise star Harrison Ford’s recent return to the role of Han Solo in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the actor’s decision to don Indiana Jones’ fedora and bullwhip once again has led many to wonder what sort of similarities they can expect to see in the two iconic characters’ returns to the screen. Of course, if you haven’t seen The Force Awakens yet, you should probably consider this a spoiler warning before reading on.

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Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter about his upcoming slate of films, Spielberg expressed excitement about returning to the character he first introduced in 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark — and assured fans that Indiana Jones won’t suffer the same fate as Ford’s space-faring Star Wars smuggler, Han Solo.

“I think this one is straight down the pike for the fans,” said Spielberg of the fifth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise. “The one thing I will tell you is I’m not killing off Harrison [Ford] at the end of it.”

Now 73 years old, Ford is expected to play the role of torch-passer in his return to the series, even if his character doesn’t meet his absolute end.

Other than Spielberg and Ford’s involvement, little is known about the plot of the fifth Indiana Jones movie at this point. Oscar-winning composer John Williams, who provided the original, iconic music for Raiders of the Lost Ark, has also been confirmed to return and provide the score for the next film.

Along with Spielberg in the director’s chair, the Indiana Jones sequel will feature a script by Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Jurassic Park screenwriter David Koepp.

Still untitled, the fifth Indiana Jones movie is scheduled to hit theaters July 19, 2019.

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The 5 best scenes in the Indiana Jones franchise, ranked

Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones frightened by a snake in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Indiana Jones is one of the unlikely heroes ever depicted onscreen. Jones is a different kind of hero. One that uses his brain instead of his muscles and wears a brown hat instead of a cape. Indiana Jones is an archaeology professor, not a crime fighter. He is not all-powerful nor fearless. Need I remind you that the man has a crippling fear of snakes. Indy is a human that makes mistakes. Yet, he's beloved for his flaws because his bravery and willingness to do the right thing make him an admirable hero. Plus, it also helps to have Harrison Ford as to star.

Ford will reprise his role as the legendary adventurer one last time in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. In honor of Indy's swan song, we ranked the five best scenes in the franchise. Apologies to fans of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which is much better than it gets credit for, even if no scenes from the film made this list.
5. Sword vs. gun
Raiders of the Lost Ark (3/10) Movie CLIP - Sword vs. Gun (1981) HD

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All the Indiana Jones movies, ranked from worst to best

Harrison Ford sits next to Sean Connery in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

It's the final countdown for Harrison Ford and his portrayal as a master adventurer and professor of archaeology, Indiana Jones. Ford will reprise his role as Indy one final time in the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Directed by Logan's James Mangold, Indy squares off against the Nazis again, but this time, it's 1969 amid the space race between the United States and Russia. His mission: retrieve the Archimedes Dial, a time travel device, before it gets into the hands of Jürgen Voller (Mads Mikkelsen), a former Nazi working for NASA.

It has yet to be seen if Dial of Destiny will be a worthy swan song for Ford. However, the previous four films, especially the original trilogy, will live on forever. There's a timeless aspect to Indiana Jones movies where the Raiders, Temple of Doom, and Last Crusade still look great and don't feel dated despite being filmed in the 1980s and set in the 1930s. Before we add Dial of Destiny to the rankings, here are the previous four Indiana Jones movies ranked from worst to best.

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Is Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny streaming?

Indy raises his whip in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

"If adventure has a name, it's Indiana Jones!" For over four decades, Harrison Ford has portrayed Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones, Jr. on the big screen. This week, after a 15-year hiatus, Ford is back in his trademark Fedora for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. This time, Indy's a much older man who is trying to adjust to the changing times in 1969. But when some of his old Nazi foes reemerge, Indiana Jones will once again step up to save the world.

Since Steven Spielberg helmed the first four films, Director James Mangold is stepping into some pretty big shoes. This film's legacy extends back to 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Ford isn't the only one reprising his role from that movie. John Rhys-Davies is back as Sallah, and Karen Allen will appear as Marion Ravenwood. Newcomers to the franchise include Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Ethann Isidore, and Mads Mikkelsen.