It was announced early last year that production on a new Indy movie had begun. No, not another independent movie. I’m talking about the man with the hat and whip, Dr. Indiana Jones.
After a gap of nearly twenty years since the previous film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, fans have been wondering if they would see Dr. Jones Leap across the screen again. When it was announced that Steven Spielberg and George Lucas were interested in a new film, online message boards, forums, and fan sites erupted with rumors and speculation.
What would the title be? When would it take place? What was the story? It was soon announced that Harrison Ford would reprise his role as Indiana, and that Shia Lebouf would portray his companion. Then, at the 2007 San Diego Comic Con, a video feed of Spielberg, Ford, and Lebouf was shown where Spielberg unveiled the title of the new film Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
The story revolves around Indiana trying to race against Soviet agents to locate the Crystal Skull, an ancient relic believed to have been crafted by higher powers.
The film is set nineteen years after the previous movie as a way of acknowledging the passing of time between films. It has been noted that much of the film’s humor will be derived from Indy’s age.
Ford, who is now 64 years old, reportedly had to train in a gym for three hours a day and was put on a high protein diet of fish and vegetables in order to be physically fit to wear the hat again. Shia Lebouf also had to gain fifteen pounds worth of muscle in order to play his character, Mutt, who is rumored to be Indy’s son, but this has yet to be confirmed or denied by anyone involved in the film.
The film also features Ray Winstone as Mac, a friend and competitor of Jones’ who serves as a replacement of sorts for the character Sallah. Also present is Cate Blanchett as Irena Spalko, who is a villainous Russian agent with a love/hate relationship with Indy. The film also features the return of Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood, who has been absent in the story for the last 27 years.
And finally, the film is set to feature Academy Award winner John Hurt in an unspecified role. The film is expected to open on May 22, 2008.
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