Indiana Jones 5 director James Mangold shares the advice he got from Steven Spielberg, who directed all four previous movies in the franchise. Ford first played his iconic archeologist back in 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark and would re-team with Spielberg for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Little is known about the plot of Indiana Jones 5, but the film will feature the return of John Rhys-Davies as Sallah, in addition to introducing characters played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, and Boyd Holbrook, among others.
In a recent interview with Empire, James Mangold shares more information about what it was like taking on the role of director for Indiana Jones 5 and reveals what advice he got from Steven Spielberg. Spielberg, as it turns out, had some fairly straightforward and yet profound words of wisdom to share with the franchise newcomer. Checkout Mangold's full comment below:
“Steven said to me, ‘It’s a movie that’s a trailer from beginning to end — always be moving’.”
Why Indiana Jones Has Stood The Test Of Time
Although 2008's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull proved somewhat divisive among fans, the first three installments are widely lauded as some of the best adventure movies of all time. Not only did Ford's portrayal of Jones make him one of the most iconic movie characters ever, but Spielberg's directing makes each movie feel propulsive, mysterious, and thrilling. As Spielberg's advice suggests, one of the big keys to a successful Indiana Jones movie is creating a sense of momentum. In Raiders of the Lost Ark, for example, Indy relentlessly pursues the Ark of the Covenant, with his quest taking him from the mountains of Nepal to the bustling streets of Cairo.
Even outside of the franchise's iconic action sequences, Indiana Jones movies always have an air of mystery around them and an element of puzzle-solving. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade features Indy traveling to Venice during one of the movie's earlier sequences, using his kidnapped father's diary to uncover a hidden passageway underneath a library floor. This sequence isn't necessarily action-packed, but it does keep viewers on their toes and the story moves forward with each new piece of information that Indy uncovers. While Indiana Jones 5 does need action scenes, the franchise has shown that there are other ways to make the story feel propulsive as well.
It remains to be seen how Indiana Jones 5 will compare to other installments in the franchise, but Spielberg's advice suggests that fans are in for an action-packed adventure. While some fans may find it odd to have Spielberg no longer sitting in the director's chair, Mangold's involvement could put an interesting new spin on Spielberg's classic formula. The upcoming entry in the Indiana Jones franchise is expected to be Ford's last time playing the character, which means expectations are high. With a release date set for next July, a trailer for Indiana Jones 5 shouldn't be too far away, hopefully giving fans an idea of how Mangold has interpreted Spielberg's advice.
Source: Empire
