Steven Spielberg believes that the time for a female Indiana Jones is now! Well, soon at least.
The legendary filmmaker is making the rounds talking about “Ready Player One,” but what’s on a lot of peoples’ minds is his next film, “Indiana Jones 5.” There’s not much known about the film, other than it will most likely be Harrison Ford’s last performance as the classic character. It’s also assumed that Shia LaBeouf will not be making an appearance, as he did in the last film in the series. However, Spielberg did drop some news about the future of the franchise. And that future might very well be female.
“We’d have to change the name from Jones to Joan. And there would be nothing wrong with that,” said the director, in an interview with The Sun.
While we have to assume that he was being silly with the Jones/Joan thing, the sentiment is very much real. But don’t get all excited thinking that the upcoming fifth film will introduce a female character that will continue the legacy. This is very much Harrison Ford’s film.
“This will be Harrison Ford’s last Indiana Jones movie, I am pretty sure, but it will certainly continue after that,” Spielberg continued. It’s what happens after ‘Indy 5’ that has people interested. While it has been rumored that Lucasfilm was thinking about rebooting the series, it doesn’t look like there’s anything written in stone. Perhaps, a female lead is the way to go.
Spielberg talked more about the important role women have played in his life, saying, “My mom was strong. She had a voice, she had a very strong opinion. I have been very lucky to be influenced by women, several of whom I have just loved madly — my mom and my wife.”
And his respect for women carries over to his filmmaking. In the interview, he goes on to explain that the female leads and male leads always get paid the same, specifically when he was asked about Olivia Cooke and Tye Sheridan in “Ready Player One.” “Everyone was equally paid. And on ‘The Post,’ Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep got the same paycheck exactly, right down to the perks,” Spielberg said.
While the idea of a female Indiana Jones might freak some fans out, it looks like the mastermind behind the series, Spielberg, is completely open to the idea. Now, we can add Indiana Jones to the list of characters that will begin to have a push to be cast with a female, alongside James Bond.
Just please don’t call her Indiana Joan. Ugh.
