Indiana Jones and my struggle with the idea of a fifth film

There are some who have argued that the role of Indiana Jones can be transitive, in the same vein as James Bond, passed from actor to actor. I am not one of these people. For me, Harrison Ford is crucial to making that character and those films work. He has owned the part for nearly 40 years, on and off-screen.

Anything featuring the Indiana Jones character without him would feel like a knock-off. I have nothing against Chris Pratt, and some of other leading actors who get bandied about for the famous fedora an whip, but it would feel like a meaningless money grab to me to 'reboot' it.

Of course a case can be made, and a compelling one, that the last Indy movie -- the polarizing to say the least 2008 movie with an awful title -- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, was also about money. And it certainly made a lot of it. Even if many fans hated it, the movie was the highest grosser in a very profitable franchise.

Even many of that films detractors will agree that it wasn't Ford who failed us with Indy 4, it was producer George Lucas and director Steven Spielberg, who seemed unable to mesh their sensibilities of come up with an exciting, coherent story that justified a fourth movie's existence nearly 20 years after what felt like a climactic one.

The 1950s Cold War setting was an inspired choice I thought, but the film didn't fully capitalize on its period potential and its space alien finale is murky at best.

Still Cool as F

In the years since, a follow-up has been promised (thankfully, a rumored spin-off starring Jones' son Mutt, played by Shia LeBeouf, never came to pass) and then repeatedly delayed.

In his late 70s, Ford is suddenly viable again, and seems to almost exclusively appear in resurrections of his greatest franchises (only Stallone has been able to rival his output). And against the odds, the results have largely been good.

He gave Oscar-worthy, scene stealing performances (albeit in supporting roles) in both The Force Awakens and Blade Runner 2049, one of which became the biggest box office hit of all-time and the other a critically acclaimed modern cult classic.

There is a part of me that has longed for Ford and company to right the wrong of 2008's Indy with a better, more on brand entry that doesn't necessarily pass the torch but bring his story to a more satisfying conclusion. Sort of like how Stallone made the crowd-pleasing Rocky Balboa as a mea culpa for the godawful Rocky V.

But then the news came that Indy 5 was being delayed yet again -- to 2021! Ford will be 78 going on 79 years old by that time. Now, Ford has survived plane crashes and doors nearly crushing his leg and he keeps on kicking. He looks great and fit for his age, and I am sure he can still turn on the charm as the character, but there is no denying the physicality that this role requires.

How will a film with a 79-year-old Indiana Jones at its center function? Can it be entertaining? Clint Eastwood proved he could still carry movie at nearly 90 last year. Whether you liked The Mule or not (and I did), it was undeniably a hit, although it wasn't exactly an action movie either.

Perhaps a film that fully acknowledges Indy's advanced age and maybe even explores the vulnerability of growing old could be interesting territory for Spielberg to plumb. But what worries me is that he and Ford approach this material with a sort of fan service mentality (which really hampered Ready Player One) where they feel they must hit certain beats, have big set pieces and the go home. There hasn't been a real interest in developing the character of Indiana Jones since 1989's Last Crusade.

My hunch tells me this movie is probably never going to happen. Ford's age is simply going to catch up with him eventually (the tragic loss of his former Star Wars cast-mates Carrie Fisher and Peter Mayhew made that reality all too plain) and Spielberg's heart never has seen to be in it. As talented as Spielberg is, he's no Spring chicken either, and it's clear that when he is not emotionally invested in a movie, it suffers.

I think I don't want to see this movie made, but if it is made I want it to be with Ford and Spielberg (and a tighter, better script), and I'm worried it'll be Pratt and someone like Colin Trevorrow. Sigh.