With the Indiana Jones franchise apparently set to end with Indiana Jones 5, it may be in need of a reboot – but giving it one would be a bad idea. The franchise started in 1981 with Raiders of the Lost Ark, and in the four decades since, Indiana Jones has become one of pop culture’s most iconic characters. So far, Harrison Ford has played the titular adventurer-archaeologist in four films, with a fifth on the horizon.
The franchise established a number of well-known adventure movie tropes, and Indiana Jones even created the PG-13 rating, securing the Indiana Jones films a place in movie history. However, Indiana Jones 5 is supposedly set to be Ford’s last outing as the character, meaning that the franchise will need to reevaluate its formula. Jones as a character is central to the movies, and he’s also practically synonymous with Ford, making the future of the franchise unclear.
With Ford seemingly ready to retire from the role, the question is: will Indiana Jones be rebooted? Its status as one of cinema’s most iconic franchises seems to indicate that it likely will be rebooted or continued in some way, but this comes with its own set of issues. With its titular hero becoming too old to continue his adventures, the only way for the franchise to continue is with a reboot of some description, but this would undermine its legacy.
Harrison Ford Can’t Keep Playing Indiana Jones
While recasting Harrison Ford in the Indiana Jones franchise is practically unthinkable, the fact remains that the actor cannot continue in the role much longer. Ford has been playing Jones for over 40 years, and by the time Indiana Jones 5 releases, he’ll be 80 years old. Though the role is essentially synonymous with the actor, the latter seems to be aging out of it, creating an obvious obstacle to any potential future for the franchise.
As the Indiana Jones franchise practically defined the action-adventure genre, the fact that its lead actor is perhaps getting too old for action-heavy roles is the biggest reason that Indiana Jones 5 will be his last. Although Indiana Jones 5‘s time travel may explore a young Indy story, it’s unclear exactly what this will mean for the future of the franchise. Regardless of how the upcoming film handles Ford’s age, the fact remains that the franchise can no longer bank on the actor to lead it.
Replacing The Indiana Jones Franchise’s Title Character Won’t Work
In many franchises, the exit of a main character isn’t always a big deal. The Transformers movies were able to continue without Shia LaBeouf’s Sam Witwicky, and the Rocky franchise has shifted focus to follow Adonis Creed. However, the Indiana Jones franchise is different: its stories have been built entirely around its titular character, and the attempt to introduce his potential replacement was not met with enthusiasm.
One of the biggest reasons the Indiana Jones franchise can’t swap out its main character is that there’s no real way for it to be achieved organically. With other franchises, this passing of the torch has been achieved through the continued use of former protagonists in a supporting capacity, or the replacement of just one member of a larger ensemble cast. However, as the entire Indiana Jones franchise centers on the character himself, establishing a genuine and satisfying continuation of the story would be all but impossible with another character at the fore – meaning that a reboot is perhaps the only real way forward.
The Indiana Jones Franchise Is Getting Out Of Hand
Another reason that the franchise may well need rebooting lies with its narratives. Kingdom of the Crystal Skull‘s problems are most often considered to be related to its alien-centric story, and with indications that Indiana Jones 5 will feature time travel, it seems that the franchise will be continuing the sci-fi trend. Many consider this a betrayal of the franchise’s central premise – at its core, the franchise is about an archaeologist seeking to preserve legendary historical artifacts.
Regardless of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull‘s issues, the fact remains that the franchise seems to have lost sight of its best ideas. With aliens now established in Indiana Jones’ universe, and the character himself already having faced the power of God twice over, it seems that a continuation of the story would only see things escalate further. After everything that went wrong with Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the franchise could certainly do with a clean break, and more direct sequels can’t afford the same narrative opportunities as a reboot.
Why An Indiana Jones Reboot Makes Sense
Although many would vehemently deny the necessity of an Indiana Jones reboot, it would undoubtedly make some sense. In many ways, the franchise seemed to have jumped the shark with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull by introducing sci-fi into the narrative, and Indiana Jones 5‘s rumored time travel plot seems to indicate a continuation of that trend. With Ford’s fifth movie supposedly being his last, it would perhaps be a perfect opportunity to retool the franchise in order to restore its initial tone and bring back the elements that made Jones so iconic.
Whether Indiana Jones 5‘s time travel will prove to be a means of rebooting the franchise in some way remains to be seen, but there’s a good chance it might. As the previous installment was so poorly received after the success of the franchise’s original three films, returning Indiana Jones to its former glory would be the best way to continue the franchise. Moreover, Ford’s age means that he can’t continue in the title role, and a reboot would be the only way to place a new actor in the fedora – no matter how blasphemous that may seem.
Why Indiana Jones Shouldn’t Be Rebooted
Although a reboot makes perfect logical sense, it may not be the best course of action. The idea that Indiana Jones 5 could be Indy’s ending is bittersweet, but retiring the role along with Ford would be the most respectful way of handling the franchise. As Hollywood has put an emphasis on making reboots and legacy sequels in recent years, giving the character an emphatic end would be a poignant way to honor his iconic status.
Exactly what will happen with the Indiana Jones franchise after Indiana Jones 5 is unclear. While there is every chance the franchise will be rebooted with another actor in the title role – particularly as it seems the only way to continue the story – this would likely be ill-advised. After all, every story needs an ending, and giving the Indiana Jones franchise a satisfying conclusion is the best way to honor the character.
Key Release Dates
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Release Date:2023-06-30
