Indiana Jones 5 will bring the legendary adventurer's journey to a close, but how old will he be? Despite being a huge success in 2008, Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull left an undeniable bad taste in the mouths of critics and moviegoers. That might be one reason it took over a decade for Indiana Jones 5 to come together, with original director Steven Spielberg eventually exiting and handing it over to James Mangold. Indiana Jones 5 will take place in 1969 and will see the title character sparring with ex-Nazis against the backdrop of the Space Race.
While even the original Raiders Of The Lost Ark offered some jokes about Indiana's age, the fifth film will make his twilight years a key part of the story. While Indiana Jones 5 will feature a prologue set in 1944, most of it will occur in 1969. As Henry "Indiana" Jones Jr was born in 1899, this will make him about 70 in Indiana Jones 5. Harrison Ford himself was 79 when the sequel went into production, which will make his commitment to the action and stunt sequences all the more impressive.
How Old Indiana Jones & Harrison Ford Were In Past Indy Movies
The opening scene of Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade made it clear that young Indy (River Phoenix) had been adventuring since the age of 13; it also explained Indiana's hat/whip combo. Audiences first met Indiana in Raiders Of The Lost Ark, which was set in 1936. This would make him between 36 to 37 years old, while Ford turned 38 during filming. The second entry Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom acted as a prequel to Raiders, taking place a year before in 1935, placing the good doctor's age between 35 to 36; Ford turned 41 during production.
The main plot of 1989's Last Crusade found Indiana teaming with his father Henry Jones, Sr. (Sean Connery) to take on more Nazis in 1938. This makes him 38 to 39, while the star himself turned 46 filming the sequel. Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull brought the franchise back after nearly 20 years away. This time jump is reflected in the movie, which takes place in 1957, placing Indiana - who may or may not be immortal - between 57 to 58 years old; Ford turned 65 making it.
Indiana Jones 5 Will Tell A Proper Old Indy Story
Discussing taking over Indiana Jones 5 from Spielberg to Empire, James Mangold revealed he had the script retooled to make Ford's age a key part of the story. The drafts that had been developed made some jokes about his advancing years, but for the director, he wanted the final film to become a “movie about a hero at sunset.” In a similiar way that No Time To Die was crafted around Daniel Craig's Bond exit, Indiana Jones 5 has the chance to tell the definitive old Indy story.
Of course, the end doesn't have to imply Indiana Jones dies in the next outing, but in saying farewell to such an iconic figure, addressing Ford's age will lend it greater power. The movies and The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles TV series have already covered so much of Jones' life - though the canon status of the latter is questionable - while Indiana Jones 5 can offer a closing chapter. In the face of a world that changed so drastically over Indy's lifetime alone, having him go on one last adventure to defeat some old foes sounds like a great final story.