I certainly wouldn't call them problematic. I can see how the whole "macho male action hero gets the girl" aspect is a bit dated...but on the other hand, the female leads have usually been pretty competent and resourceful.

I would be fine with a new movie omitting the "get the girl" aspect, but I really hope this doesn't become one of those movies where the hero becomes an incompetent goofball in order for the female lead to look better. Just make them peers who kick butt together. That will make everyone happy.

 

I disagree about Indiana Jones and adventure serials being dated. The fun, swashbuckling tone is something that’s timeless, and it’s why serials were popular in the 40’s, why Indy was popular in the 80’s, and why Pirates of the Caribbean became popular in the 2000’s.

Obviously Indy will have to take the backseat when it comes to the action this time around. Otherwise you run the risk of having a fight scene that looks as ridiculous as that one scene in The Irishman where Robert DeNiro beats up that one guy and you can tell he can barely lift his leg and he’s winded after doing a few kicks. I think fans would accept it more if Short Round came back and took on more of the action heavy stuff. If Lucasfilm decides to have someone like Tessa Thompson come in as some random student and be amazing at everything and starts upstaging Indy, things are not going to go over well at all. Most rational people know that the torch needs to be passed if Indy 5 happens, but it should be done respectfully.

 

That isn't what the problem is. They supposedly see the second one as racist and the other two as promoting specific religions. This is about as specific as I can get, obviously.

 

A lot of the dated stuff is due to the really one dimensional way they portray the foreign cultures the stories tend to be immersed in: Africa typically gets it the worst - especially in the British serials about characters like Indy - but a fair whack of Asia gets it too.

With that in mind, it is possible to do such period pieces with more nuance but retain the feel of an old two fisted tale. The Mummy, Captain America: The First Avenger and The Rocketeer are three such examples.

Actually, there’s a thought. Does Joe Johnston want to direct an Indiana Jones movie? Like if James Mangold drops out or something.

 

I always wanted Short Round to come back in some way, shape, or form as a student of Indy's learning the archeology trade. I was bummed to see that he wasn't even present at Indy and Marion's wedding at the end of Crystal Skull. Having SR back as a more learned and capable (if not recurring) character (and not just comedy relief sidekick material) would already go long way to making up for Temple of Doom's more questionable cultural aspects.

I'm personally not keen on Mutt Williams coming back to take on the mantle only because I found the character to be unlikable and one note.

 

I would love it if Short Round returned. Him getting the torched pass to him would be better than Mutt in any case.

 

I haven't seen Temple of Doom since I was younger, so I can't say I remember whether or not there's racism in it. I plan of rewatching all three classic Indiana Jones movies over the summer.

I never got the sense that the first and the third were promoting religions, per se. Sure, the artifacts are real within the context of the story, but by the same logic Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is promoting the notion that they keep aliens inside Area 51. And that we should climb in a refrigerator to survive a disaster. The latter implication should be considered far more problematic than anything in one and three. If that's what Lucasfilm is taking away from those movies, I think they're kind of confused.

 

Does Indiana Jones have it within its saga to feature mysterious mystic relics alongside artifacts of alien existence?

 

Harrison Ford's INDIANA JONES Voted Greatest Movie Hero Of All Time In Empire Magazine Poll

 

Indiana Jones 5 Producer Offers Update on Film, Confirms Harrison Ford is the "Only" Indiana Jones

This year saw a big shakeup with the upcoming Indiana Jones, as James Mangold was tapped to direct following Steven Spielberg's departure from the project, with producer on the film Frank Marshall noting that the filmmakers are currently working on a new script but, whatever adventures the beloved archaeologist might get up to, Harrison Ford won't be replaced with a new actor.

"We are working on the script,” Marshall shared with Den of Geek. “There will only be one Indiana Jones and that’s Harrison Ford. What I’m excited about with Jim [Mangold] is a great story. I think you see that in his movies like Ford Vs Ferrari. It’s all about characters and telling a good story. So I’m excited to see what he comes up with. I haven’t seen (the script) yet so I don’t know what to tell you.”

 

So if we're keeping Ford, will this push things up to the late 60's, maybe even the start of the 70's?

 

I love Ford, but keeping him is a mistake. Indiana Jones should be a part that's handed down and reinvented, like James Bond. Aging the character along with the actor and moving him into eras other than the one he was designed to fit into hurts the franchise more than recasting would.

 

They better not de-age him in the movie. That would be terrible. I agree that a new actor, new blood needs to be put into this franchise. I still think Chris Pine would be amazing.

 

If they ever do recast for a younger/in his prime Indy, would we ever have the Nazis back even if this was set back in the forties. I remember Spielberg sating he never wanted to use them as villains in that way again after the enormity of the emotions in making "Schindler's List", and with Indy being a Disney thing now, I'm really not so sure. I kind of think that ship has sailed.

 

I wouldn't be against less big action scenes and more suspense or running around scenes.

If they're keeping Harrison, having him race against the clock and even his own body even more to try and uncover a artifact/mystery before the opposing force does is fine with me. Partnered up with a supporting younger actor/actress to aid him. More or less doing a Last Crusade type of action akin to Harrison and Connery.

Hell it could just be Indiana trying to solve a mystery/find an artifact with no opposing force and just his drive to discover it because he only has so long to live. Becoming more of a existential epilogue than another chapter of action adventure for him.

Would also not be opposed to Mutt coming back, since I actually liked that character.

Could get something Vietnam or cold war related if they aren't doing Nazis any more.

 

I agree, but I don't think Nazis are necessary to the franchise. They could invent some sort of SPECTRE style enemy for Jones and keep it in the same WWII era. Heck, Jones would even work shifted backwards, WWI or even the late Wild West. Not too far back. Jones should sort of perpetually exist after the telephone is invented, but before computers.

 

Indiana Jones is documented as being still alive during 1992.

 

Yeah, as far as I know, the "Young Indiana Jones" TV series and it's flash-forward segments still count for continuity.

 

I'll clarify to say "In my hypothetical James Bond-style handling of Indian Jones, his stories should always be set after the telephone is invented, but before computers." I don't mean he should be born after the telephone is invented or die before computers. I just think his particular brand of adventure would thrive best in that range.

 

No, Chris pine is so unsympathetic. He's got a face where I immediately dislike the guy. Although he looks better than Colin Farrel, who's also a guy I find totally unsympathetic.