Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will see Harrison Ford return to the iconic role of action-archaeologist Indiana Jones, in an adventure in which he faces his own mortality. Lucasfilm has finally begun marketing for the fifth film in the Indiana Jones franchise, directed by James Mangold and due out on June 30, 2023. The first trailer for Indiana Jones 5 revealed a de-aged Harrison Ford in flashbacks, a number of stunning action scenes, and of course the unforgettable theme tune. It also confirmed the film's title.
The latest film is officially called Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. It clearly follows a tried-and-tested format for this franchise, naming the legendary object of power Indiana Jones is now pursuing. Indy may still insist he does not believe in magic, but he has already seen the Ark of the Covenant and pursued a Crystal Skull that turned out to be associated with aliens. Now, he is set on a more mysterious artifact, one called the Dial of Destiny, which presumably possesses similar power to change the world.
Could The Dial Of Destiny Connect To Greek Mythology?
Indiana Jones is presumably dealing with religious archeology again, not extraterrestrials - that idea, explored in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, was heavily criticized by critics and viewers alike. There's no direct historical reference to an artifact called the "Dial of Destiny," though, which makes this rather more mysterious than some past objects. It is most likely a mystical name for the Antikythera mechanism, an ancient Greek hand-powered orrery that is traditionally viewed as the first analogue computer. This was used to measure astronomical positions, and it's important to remember many ancient cultures believe a person's fate is controlled by the stars; this would set it up perfectly as a "Dial of Destiny."
It's possible Indiana Jones & the Dial of Destiny will tie the Antikythera mechanism to the Greek fates - specifically to Atropos, one of the three sisters. The film stars an older Indiana Jones, and it will apparently confront him with his own mortality. Atropos is the Fate responsible for sealing the decisions of her sisters; she is often seen with a sundial, which could be rewritten as the Antikythera mechanism. She is also the Fate who carries scissors with which to cut the threads of a person's life. An encounter with forces associated with Atropos would certainly bring Indiana Jones face-to-face with his mortality.
What The Dial Of Destiny Teases For Indiana Jones 5's Story
James Mangold's Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is clearly following a very familiar formula, one in which Indy competes with a group of Nazis in pursuit of a powerful ancient artifact. Mads Mikkelsen plays the villain, Voller; Mikkelsen described him as "a man who would like to correct some of the mistakes of the past." According to Mikkelsen, "There is something that could make the world a much better place to live in" - better according to Voller's philosophy. It's possible the Dial of Destiny can be used to rewrite the past, to change the course of history, even establishing a world where the Nazis never lost. That would make this adventure Indiana Jones' grandest to date, a fitting continuation to one of the most memorable film franchises of all time.