‘Indiana Jones 5’: Release Date, Cast, News, and Trailer

Indiana Jones 5

Indiana Jones 5, officially known as Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, is releasing in theaters summer of 2023. And the film will mark Harrison Ford’s final outing as Indy.

It was exactly 40 years after the premiere of Raiders of the Lost Ark that Lucasfilm officially began filming for the 5th installment of the movie franchise. And we finally have a confirmed release date and the first trailer for the film, which features de-age Harrison Ford and the return of classic characters such as Sallah (John Rhys-Davies).

Indiana Jones 5

“We have a really human story to tell, as well as a movie that will kick your ass. “This is it! I will not fall down for you again.” Ford, 80, teases.

Here is everything we know so far about the fifth and final Indiana Jones movie.

Indiana Jones 5

Indiana Jones 5 Production

It’s been over a decade since Kingdom of the Crystal Skull premiered in 2008 to largely unhappy audiences. Many suspected that the inclusion of Shia LaBeouf’s character, Mutt, was a transitionary move to put this new character at the helm of the franchise and retire Jones himself.

While Ford was originally skeptical to get on board with Indiana Jones 5, if it really was happening, he wasn’t going to let it happen without him.

On the making of the “fifth and final” movie, as confirmed by Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, Ford said “We’re not going to make another Indiana Jones unless we are in a position to kill it. We want it to be the best. We’ve got some scheduling issues and a few script things to do but we are determined to get it right before we get it made.”

Indiana Jones

The Script

And they certainly did have “a few script things” to do. The screenwriter from Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, David Koepp, was slated to write the next movie. He left the project in 2018 to be replaced by Jonathan Kasdan, co-writer of Solo: A Star Wars Story. So it’s not the first time he’s written for one of the characters that Ford made famous.

His script, however, didn’t make the cut. They ditched it in favor of Dan Fogelman’s screenplay.

Indiana Jones 5 Poster
Indiana Jones 5 Poster

The Director

Many anticipated that Steven Spielberg would once again direct, since he directed all the previous films. However, they made a switch in 2020, with James Mangold, who previously worked on films such as Logan and Ford vs. Ferrari, stepping in to take over for Spielberg.

It’s interesting to note that this is the first Indiana Jones film made since Walt Disney Studios acquired Lucasfilm in 2012.

Despite all these changes, we can count on one mainstay of the Indiana Jones franchise; John Williams will once again compose the score. Though the composer says he’s considering retiring after completing his work on Indiana Jones 5.

Indiana Jones Movie

Indiana Jones 5 Filming

After over a decade of standstill, the team started filming Indiana Jones 5 in June 2021. We sneaked a peek of Harrison masked and in costume on set in Twitter post on June 7, 2021, that featured a set photo. 

In the traditional Ford fashion, Indy managed to injure himself while practicing a fight sequence, not even a month into production. Ford returned to filming in September 2021 after his shoulder healed. Ford is well known for sustaining injuries both on and off-set, so this setback was taken in stride by all parties.

Harrison Ford

Indiana Jones Cast

Although there was initial doubt of his involvement, there is ultimately no Indiana Jones franchise without Harrison Ford. He signed on one last time to lead the film.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge, well known for her creation of Fleabag, showrunning of Killing Eve, and writing No Time to Die, will star alongside Ford. Fun fact: like writer Kasdan, she also was involved in Solo as L3-37.

Mads Mikkelsen
Editorial credit: taniavolobueva / Shutterstock.com

Mads Mikkelsen, perhaps best known as Hannibal Lector from the show Hannibal, stars as former Nazi and current NASA scientist Voller. Also starring is Narcos’ Boyd Holbrook, Black Panther’s Shaunette Renée Wilson, and Avengers: Age of Ultron’s Thomas Kretschmann.

John Rhys-Davies, the actor who played Sallah in Raiders of the Lost Ark and Last Crusade, will also be returning.

Antonio Banderas

Antonio Banderas is also attached to the project, though not much is known about his role at this time. In a recent interview with Collider, Banderas did comment on his involvement, saying he only has a “little” role.

“My character is very little; it’s almost a cameo… He’s just a friend of Indiana’s character, and he’s looking for him because he needs something from his friend.” Banderas reveals.

“But he just takes up very little time of the movie, but very happy to be part of a saga that is of the history of motion pictures, obviously,” he adds.

Antonio Banderas
Photo Credit: lev radin

Banderas also noted that just being able to be on set for the movie met a great deal to him.

“Just the fact that I step on the set, for me, was important. And I got to tell you. I had a great time with Harrison. He’s a gentleman on the set and outside of the set. I share some dinners with him and sometimes, and what a gentleman.” Banderas recalls.

The extent of each character’s involvement or roles is largely under wraps at this time. 

Indiana Jones 5 Plot

While initially, in true Lucasfilm style, little was known about the plot for Indiana Jones 5. However, thanks to the YouTube clip below, fans got some early clues with a train decorated with swastikas and Reichsadlers (the Imperial Eagle) making its way through Yorkshire.

So, we knew the Nazis were back. 

But now it’s confirmed, Indiana Jones 5 is set in 1969 and the plot centers on Indy suspecting that some of the Nazi scientists brought to the US to help out in the Space Race could be secretly sabotaging the country.

Indy’s suspicions are proven right because former Nazi and current NASA scientist Voller (Mads Mikkelsen) is plotting to use the moon landing to reset the world as he sees fit.

Indiana Jones

Indiana Jones 5 Release Date 

So when can we expect to see Indiana Jones 5 in theaters? If we were going by the original date, we should have seen it already.

The original date, when the film was first officially announced, was July 2019. Then, due to setbacks, they said July 2020. And then they said July 9, 2021. Then they said July 29, 2022.

Now, LucasFilm has confirmed that we’ll see Indiana Jones 5 on the big screen on June 30, 2023. If Ford is to be believed, it should be worth the wait!

Indiana Jones 5 Trailer

Here’s hoping that this film will be for Ford, what No Time to Die was for Daniel Craig. Ford deserves a good ending for this franchise.

Are you excited about the final installment of Indiana Jones? Sound off in our comment section below and let us know your thoughts!

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  1. I hope so much that there will be in Indiana Jones 5 with Harrison Ford (Dr Henry “Indiana” Jones Jr), the return of John Rhys-Davies (Sallah), Karen Allen (Marion Ravenwood), Shia LaBeouf (or otherwise a other actor for Henry Jones III “Mutt” Williams), Fred Sorenson (Jock Lindsey), George Harris (Simon Katanga, freighter captain), Eddie Tagoe (Messenger Pirate), Jim Broadbent (Charles Stanforth), Alan Dale (General Robert Ross), Kate Capshaw (Wilhelmina “Willie” Scott) and Sean Connery (in deleted scenes) (Dr Henry Walton Jones Sr).