Depending on the month and who you talk to, either “Indiana Jones 5” is in trouble or it’s just experiencing minor delays. Regardless of the spin, it’s clear that the latest sequel in the franchise is taking a very long time to get made and has been pushed back a number of times on the Disney release schedule. And much of that delay seems to stem from the ever-changing script, combined with the fact that the film recently experienced a change in director.
Earlier this week, writer David Koepp confirmed to Collider that he left the troubled production of “Indiana Jones 5” after “Logan” director James Mangold took over for Steven Spielberg. The long-gestating picture may have lost Koepp when Spielberg left and James Mangold came aboard, but the famed screenwriter assured fans that it was simply a matter of missing his creative chemistry with Spielberg. It didn’t have anything to do with Mangold, really.
“When James Mangold came in … he deserves a chance to take his shot at it,” said Koepp. “I’d done several versions with Steven. And when Steven left, it seemed like the right time to let Jim have his own take on it and have his own person or himself write it.”
Koepp has written some of Hollywood’s biggest hits, most notable among them being “Jurassic Park,” “Spider-Man,” and “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” You’ll notice that two of those three were directed by Spielberg. He worked on “Indy 5” with Spielberg for years so it’s understandable that he would want to preserve their baby, especially if it can’t grow into a product that feels like it’s theirs.
“Indy 5” is still years away (2022, according to the latest delays), but now that we have an actual update on the film’s production we can start taking the possibility of its release a bit more seriously. It will be interesting to see what Mangold, a respected writer/director himself, can bring to this beloved franchise. His work on “Logan” and last year’s “Ford v. Ferrari” turned heads and cemented him as a go-to filmmaker with a lot to give and even more to say.
“Indiana Jones 5” is now scheduled to arrive in theaters on July 29, 2022.
