It looks like Harrison Ford and Indiana Jones are going to be returning to the big screen this time now officially a part of the Disney Empire. If you can say one thing about The Walt Disney Company it’s that they have made some very smart strategic plays in acquiring other companies that have now cemented them as the preeminent destinations for all things storytelling from live action to animation.
The company acquired LucasFilm back in 2012 at a valuation of $4.06 billion and went running with the content that includes StarWars and Indiana Jones. The main focus was StarWars and re-launching that franchise to incredible success at the movie theater, when it comes to merchandising, and in the theme parks. Now that StarWars is on an incredible succesful path its time to turn the attention to the Indiana Jones Franchise.
It has been known that both Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg have been on board with doing another film but it always had been left to George Lucas on writing a new film. Now that Disney owns the company all things are a go as they announced the new film today.
Indiana Jones will return to the big screen on July 19, 2019, for a fifth epic adventure in the blockbuster series. Steven Spielberg, who directed all four previous films, will helm the as-yet-untitled project with star Harrison Ford reprising his iconic role. Franchise veterans Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall will produce.
“Indiana Jones is one of the greatest heroes in cinematic history, and we can’t wait to bring him back to the screen in 2019,” said Alan Horn, Chairman, The Walt Disney Studios. “It’s rare to have such a perfect combination of director, producers, actor and role, and we couldn’t be more excited to embark on this adventure with Harrison and Steven.”
Famed archaeologist and explorer Indiana Jones was introduced in 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark – one of AFI’s 100 Greatest American Films of All Time – and later thrilled audiences in 1984’s Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, 1989’s Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The four films have brought in nearly $2 billion at the global box office.