Festivals - Cannes 2023 : Our return on the press conference of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

By Mulder, Cannes, Palais des Festivals, 19 may 2023

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is an upcoming American action-adventure film directed by James Mangold, who co-wrote it with Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth and David Koepp. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Lucasfilm and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, the film is the sequel to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) and will be the fifth and final installment in the Indiana Jones film series. The film features Harrison Ford in his latest interpretation of the archaeologist Indiana Jones. John Rhys-Davies reprises his role as Sallah from the previous films, as well as new actors such as Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, Shaunette Renee Wilson, Thomas Kretschmann, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Ethann Isidore and Mads Mikkelsen.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is the first and only film in the series not to be directed by Steven Spielberg or written by George Lucas, with Spielberg and Lucas serving as executive producers. It is also the first and only film in the series not to be distributed by Paramount Pictures, as Disney acquired the film rights to future sequels as a result of its acquisition of Lucasfilm; however, as compensation for this agreement, Paramount retained the distribution rights to the first four films as well as a residual associate credit. Plans for a fifth Indiana Jones film date back to the late 1970s, when Lucas and Spielberg negotiated with Paramount for four sequels to Adventurers of the Lost Ark (1981). In 2008, Lucas began researching potential storylines for a fifth film, but the project stalled for years. He passed the project to producer Kathleen Kennedy in 2012, when she became president of Lucasfilm. 

The project for a fifth film remained on hold while the company worked on the sequel to the Star Wars trilogy. Koepp was finally hired to write the fifth film in 2016, with a release date set for 2019, though it was delayed several times due to rewrites. In 2018, Jonathan Kasdan was hired to replace Koepp, who returned to write in 2019 before leaving the project. Spielberg was set to direct the film, but he stepped down in 2020 and Mangold replaced him. Filming began in June 2021, in various locations including the UK, Italy and Morocco, and was completed in February 2022. With an estimated production budget of nearly $300 million, the film is the most expensive in the franchise, as well as one of the most expensive films ever made.

In June 2016, Spielberg confirmed that John Williams, who composed the music for the previous films in the Indiana Jones franchise, would return to compose the music for the fifth film. In 2022, Williams stated that this would be his last film score, after considering retirement, although he later reversed that decision. Williams premiered one of his compositions, Helena's Theme, at the Hollywood Bowl on September 2, 2022, at Mangold's request.

Indiana Jones is a fictional character created by George Lucas and played by Harrison Ford in a series of adventure films. The character first appeared in the film Adventurers of the Lost Ark (1981) and has appeared in three sequels: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008). Indiana Jones is an archaeologist and professor known for his rugged appearance, fedora hat, leather jacket and use of a whip. He embarks on thrilling quests to discover ancient artifacts, often facing dangerous adversaries and supernatural elements. The films are set in the 1930s and are heavily influenced by the adventure series of the past. The character has become an iconic figure in popular culture, known for his wit, bravery and ingenuity. Indiana Jones is recognized as one of cinema's greatest heroes, and the films have enjoyed significant commercial success and critical acclaim. 

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will debut out of competition at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2023, with a U.S. theatrical release date of June 30, 2023.

Synopsis:
In 1969, American archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones lives against the backdrop of the space race. Jones is uncomfortable with the fact that the U.S. government has recruited former Nazis to help him beat the Soviet Union in the competition to go into space. His goddaughter, Helena Shaw, accompanies him on his journey. Meanwhile, Jürgen Voller, a member of NASA and former Nazi involved in the moon landing program, wants to make the world a better place as he sees fit.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Directed by James Mangold
Written by Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, David Koepp, James Mangold
Based on the characters by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman
Produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Simon Emanuel
With Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, John Rhys-Davies, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Ethann Isidore, Mads Mikkelsen
Cinematography: Phedon Papamichael
Editing: Michael McCusker, Andrew Buckland, Dirk Westervelt
Music: John Williams
Production companies: Walt Disney Pictures, Lucasfilm Ltd.
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release dates: May 18, 2023 (Cannes), June 28, 2023 (France), June 30, 2023 (United States).
Running time: 142 minutes

Photos: Getty images for The Walt Disney Company