Disney confirms Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will be the end of the franchise. The Lucasfilm franchise began in 1981 with Raiders of the Lost Ark, which became an instant classic. Harrison Ford returned for more adventures as the intrepid archaeologist in the 1984 prequel The Temple of Doom and the 1989 sequel The Last Crusade, rounding out the original trilogy. Ford returned again in 2008 for The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and after another long layoff, he's back for a fifth and final installment.
Ahead of Indiana Jones 5's release date, Disney officially confirmed it will be the end of the franchise. A new press release issued by the studio refers to The Dial of Destiny as "the highly anticipated final installment of the beloved franchise." Director James Mangold, who replaces Steven Spielberg, also referred to the film as the "final Indiana Jones adventure." Though Ford has previously said this will be his last portrayal of Indiana Jones, this is the first time Disney has called The Dial of Destiny the end of the franchise.
Why The Indiana Jones Franchise Is Ending
The main reason the Indiana Jones franchise is ending is due to the age of its lead star who, at 80 years old, is longer interested in the physically demanding role. During the production of Dial of Destiny, Ford reportedly injured his shoulder while rehearsing a fight scene, which forced production to work around his recovery. By ending with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, the beloved franchise will hopefully be able to go out on a high note and avoid overstaying its welcome with needless spinoffs about ancillary characters.
There have been reports of an Indiana Jones TV show in development at Disney+, which won't focus on Ford's archeologist, according to Mangold. However, there have been subsequent reports suggesting the series has been shelved, which now seem to be corroborated by Disney calling Dial of Destiny the final installment in the franchise. While it may be surprising to hear, the definitive confirmation should serve to increase anticipation for when Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny releases in theaters this summer.
Source: Disney
