The Plan For Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones Replacement?
Disney executive Kathleen Kennedy thinks Phoebe Waller-Bridges could take over Indiana Jones from Harrison Ford.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is right around the corner, and Harrison Ford will finally be saying goodbye to one of his most classic roles. With this era finally coming to an end, many are wondering how the franchise will move forward and if Phoebe Waller-Bridge will be the one to lead.
Producer and President of Lucasfilm Kathleen Kennedy recently said a spin-off starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Helen Shaw is “entirely possible” but was quick to add, “we’re not having those conversations right now,” and, “we’re just focused on finishing this with Harrison.
Even though Disney and LucasFilm are typically all about hyping up their IP, it’s understandable that they’re keeping any future Indiana Jones talks close to the vest for the moment. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is set to be a send-off for Harrison Ford, and the House of Mouse will likely want to see how the film performs before greenlighting any future spin-off films. Of course, part of this will likely also be gauging audience reactions to Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s character.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, best known for her fantastic performance in Fleabag, is playing the goddaughter of Harrison Ford’s Indy in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. While Waller-Bridge would undoubtedly be able to carry a spin-off on her own, the recent entries to the Indiana Jones franchise have not been met with warm reception. If Dial of Destiny meets a similar fate, Disney may put future plans on the back burner.
As for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny director James Mangold, it doesn’t seem like he’s interested in returning to the franchise after this. While he excitedly talked to Variety in a recent interview about how he and his script co-writers Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth wrote the character of Helena Shaw with Waller-Bridge specifically in mind, he did dismiss the possibility of directing any future spin-offs. He said, “I’m not interested,” citing the lore behind the Harrison Ford films and the fanbase as reasons he would be wary of staying in that universe.
It makes sense that James Mangold might not want to continue working on Indiana Jones films after helping to close the book on Harrison Ford’s tenure, especially since Mangold also has a different LucasFilm IP on his hands. Mangold is in charge of an upcoming Star Wars film, so he’ll be plenty busy working in that universe instead. In short, it might be a while before we hear any news on potential upcoming films after Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
For those who are interested in seeing Harrison Ford’s last adventure as the beloved character, you can check out Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny when it hits theaters on June 30. Along with Ford as Jones, the film will also see John Rhys-Davies and Karen Allen reprise their roles as Sallah and Marion Ravenwood, respectively. Along with Phoebe Waller-Bridge, new additions to the cast list include Antonio Banderas, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Ethann Isidore, Mads Mikkelsen, Shaunette Renee Wilson, Thomas Kretschmann, Olivier Richters, and Mark Killeen.
