Why the 'Indiana Jones 5' Team Might Not Be the Right One
Beloved film franchise "Indiana Jones" is returning after nine years, raising concerns among fans and critics as to the viability of the latest installment.
Here are the biggest questions everyone is asking about "Indiana Jones 5."
Why Is David Koepp Such a Huge Issue?
David Koepp is respected in the industry for his prowess and for writing multiple highly successful screenplays. He wrote "Jurassic Park," "The Lord World: Jurassic Park," and "War of the Worlds" for Steven Spielberg, as well as "Panic Room," "Spider-Man," "Carlito's Way," and "Mission: Impossible."
However, he is now working for Disney, and his latest work has not been up to par. Last year he directed "Mortdecai," a film that was panned by critics and which flopped at the box office. He also directed "Premium Rush," which scored mediocre reviews and also flopped.
His involvement may worry fans who were not thrilled about the last "Indiana Jones," which Koepp wrote. That movie was heavily criticized for its plot that revolved around aliens and for a sequence that featured monkeys swinging in trees.
Is Harrison Ford Too Old?
This past winter, Harrison Ford officially retired the character of Han Solo, who died in "Star Wars: Episode 7." Now the actor plans to return to his other most iconic role, one that seemed to have no further storyline after the last series installment.
Additionally, it is no secret that Ford had an accident on the set of "Star Wars" and he also recently crashed a plane, making him weaker for the stunts that "Indiana Jones" entails.
Another question is how long he will continue to do these movies. Disney plans to make a "Star Wars" film every year. This could be the plan with "Indiana Jones" as well, or the studio could have Ford pass the torch to another character, possibly his son, played by Shia Labeouf in the fourth movie.
Will Shia Labeouf return?
It was clear from the last film that the controversial actor is the heir apparent to Ford if the franchise is perpetuated. Labeouf's character was, after all, Indiana's son, and the ending of the fourth film certainly teased this transition.
But back in 2009, when "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" came out, Labeouf was a superstar, Spielberg's protoge and a major Hollywood star of his generation. That all fell apart shortly after the last "Indiana Jones" movie. Labeouf opted to resist the Hollywood establishment, essentially eschewing the career path that was laid out for him.
He has not worked with Spielberg since, and it is unlikely he will get another shot after several media stunts and scandals, including alleged plagiarism. Of course, Labeouf's absence leaves a gaping, problematic hole in the franchise's continuity, something that will take some crafty writing to navigate.
Further details in all of these areas will be revealed over the next few months and years. For now, fans can rejoice in the news that "Indiana Jones 5" will be released on July 19, 2019.