“Indiana Jones And The Dial of Destiny”: What We Know

The latest Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny trailer was recently revealed. Ahead of the June 30 release date, fans were treated to one more look at what the final film in the iconic franchise will involve. Harrison Ford gives it one last go as Indy, and the film looks to build on the four previous entries. The trailer features Indiana Jones and all his counterparts. He’s aged quite a bit since the last movie, which came out in 2008. The titular character even says he’s retiring in the trailer before being drug into yet another adventure. This time, it’s with Helena, the daughter of one of Jones’ old friends. Here’s what we know so far.

What Will Indiana Jones And The Dial of Destiny Be About?

As with all Indy adventures, the protagonists chase some mythical item while the antagonists try to get it first. It’s a successful formula that has worked for four previous entries, but it will be interesting to see how Mangold & Co. tries to turn the premise on its head for the fifth installment. Helena calls the item in the trailer something that can change history. This could be the most crucial item Indy and his companions have ever sought after.

Speaking of Helena, Mangold revealed who she is and what her purpose is in the movie. A popular fan theory suggested that she’d be Marcus Brody’s daughter from two previous films. “She’s a daughter of a friend of Indy’s, who we will also meet in the movie. Helena’s gotten herself in a bit of trouble, and brings [that] to Indy’s doorstep. She’s a character who’s a wonderful set of contradictions — charming and brilliant, but also a lot of trouble,” Mangold said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

The Dial of Destiny, as Helena points out, can change history. That’s what ex-Nazi Jurgen Voller, the film’s main antagonist, wants to do. He was involved with the moon landing and presumably wanted to go back and alter the course of events that transpired there. With the butterfly effect, this would create a better world in his view. Naturally, Jones and Helena are out to stop him.

Cast & Crew

The Dial of Destiny will be led by Harrison Ford who gives one last performance as Indy. He’s 80, so this could very well be one of his final performances, period. He’ll be joined by Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helena. Alongside those two, Mads Mikkelsen, Boyd Holbrook (who starred as the villain in Mangold’s Logan), Antonio Banderas, and Toby Jones are among other cast members.

Interestingly, this will be the first Indiana Jones film that does not truly involve Steven Spielberg or George Lucas. The two were key contributors to the first four films. Spielberg directed all of them, and Lucas was a writer. This time around, it will be directed by James Mangold (who made Logan and Ford v Ferrari) and written by Jez and John-Henry Butterworth, and David Koepp. Spielberg and Lucas do serve as executive producers, though.

The film is set for a wide release on June 30. However, it will arrive in the United Kingdom and Ireland on June 28. This is expected to be one of the biggest movies of the year. It’s a legacy sequel for an iconic character that everyone loves.

Is This It For Indiana Jones?

CASTELLAMMARE DEL GOLFO, ITALY – OCTOBER 18: Harrison Ford is seen on the set of “Indiana Jones 5” in Sicily on October 18, 2021 in Castellammare del Golfo, Italy. (Photo by Robino Salvatore/GC Images)

The director, cast, and crew have all stated that this is Indy’s last adventure. This will be the fifth consecutive film and obviously, Ford is getting too old to do this. There are rumors that LucasFilm used some of its de-aging technology on him anyway, so there’s no room for sequels. Spin-offs, however, are a different story.

In the age of franchises, every movie has the potential for prequels, sequels, and spin-offs. The Indiana Jones universe is no different. There are characters, storylines, and more that could be explored. Jones’s past is yet to be fleshed out, and the movies span from 1981 to 2023. There’s a lot of unexplored time there.

However, this does appear to be the final movie for this universe. There are no rumors about spin-offs, and Harrison Ford doesn’t want anyone else playing the character. “Nobody is going to be Indiana Jones, don’t you get it? I’m Indiana Jones. When I’m gone, he’s gone. It’s easy,” he reportedly said.

Ford adored playing Indiana Jones, perhaps much more than he enjoyed portraying Han Solo in the Star Wars franchise. This is a final send-off to a character that is beloved by its audience and its actor. Don’t expect to see more projects from this franchise, despite Disney’s propensity to do just that. Out of respect to Ford, they’ll likely stay away.

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