Raiders of the Lost Ark, the first movie in the Indiana Jones series, made archeologists cool, and no actor other than Harrison Ford could have achieved such a feat. The casting of Indiana Jones was so important to the character, and if it wasn’t for Ford, the franchise wouldn’t have been half as popular as it is now.
But it isn’t just Ford running the show, as a captain is nothing without his crew. The Indiana Jones movies had a superbly varied cast who all played iconic characters, but if the movie was made today, a modern cast could, arguably, make the movie better.
Elsa Schneider - Diane Kruger
Elsa Schneider, the incredibly attractive double agent who sleeps with both Indiana Jones and his dad, Henry Jones Sr., basically works for Hitler in The Last Crusade, and as outlandish as that may seem, she was one of the most interesting characters in the movie.
Diane Kruger is not only German, but she speaks several languages and has acted as somewhat of a double agent in Inglourious Basterds, and against Hitler, no less. Not only that, but she looks suspiciously like Elsa.
Short Round - Ian Chen
Though The Temple of Doom might be the most polarising entry in the series amongst fans, one of the things they got right about the movie was Short Round, the 11-year-old sidekick that has no reason to be around Indy.
When it comes to children in movies, Short Round is the least annoying and he’s actually hilarious. Ian Chen would be the best choice to play the character, as he is hilarious in ABC’s Fresh off the Boat, and he could bring a more contemporary approach to the role, toning down the racist stereotypes that came with the original.
Young Indy - Charlie Plummer
Though Young Indiana Jones was actually one of the many Indiana Jones stories that you never knew existed, it was never done better than in the first 10 minutes of The Last Crusade, which is is one of the reasons that movie is the best Raiders sequel.
River Phoenix aced the mannerisms of Harrison Ford as a 15-year-old and the whole scene was dripping with charisma, charm, and earnestness. It was some of the most impressive acting in the entire series, and the only other actor who could portray this role as well in this generation is Charlie Plummer, who proved himself as a worthy dramatic actor in Boardwalk Empire and was praised for his role in All The Money In The World.
Sallah - Sayed Badreya
As fun, thrilling, and escapist as the Indiana Jones series is, the franchise’s biggest problems are its issues with racial stereotyping and misrepresentation. In Raiders of The Lost Ark, Sallah, an Egyptian aid to Indy, was played by the Welsh actor, John Rhys-Davies.
Though Sallah is one of the most lovable characters in the franchise and Rhys-Davies did a great job, this just wouldn’t fly today. Instead, Sayed Badreya, an Egyptian actor who is known for his fun-loving personality, would be perfect for the role, as he has the beard, the physique, and the magnetism.
Walter Donovan - Malcolm McDowell
Though Walter Donovan may come off as a by-the-numbers bad guy with extreme wealth who forces Indy to do his work for him, in the hands of a great and well-seasoned actor, the role could be elevated tenfold.
The man for the job is Malcolm McDowell, who may have scored most of his roles thanks to his devilish eyebrows, but from A Clockwork Orange to Entourage, the actor has the ability to act both evil and brooding.
The Grail Knight - John Cleese
The Grail Knight protects the Holy Grail from any intruders, and in what is the last test in the climax of The Last Crusade, he can barely stand, as he’s over 900 years old.
Though it might seem strange, at first, John Cleese would be perfect for the role, as not only would it be a great reference to his role in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, one of the greatest medieval movies of all time, but he looks the part, too.
Marion - Marion Cotillard
It isn’t just because they have the same name, Marion Cotillard is one of the few dramatic actors who has decades of action and adventure movies behind her. She would make the perfect modern love interest to Indy and is perfectly capable of holding her own in a few scraps.
Cotillard never plays the damsel in distress, and she always takes problems into her own hands, just like Marion does in the movies.
Marcus Brody - Stellan Skarsgard
Brody is to Indy who Alfred is to Batman, but aside from his caretaker like duties, like Alfred, Brody is sarcastic, quick to comment on Indy’s shortcomings, and questions his own involvement, every step of the way. Brody is often so scared to get involved, but when he does, he embraces it. And when lands a punch on a Nazi, nobody’s prouder than himself.
Skarsgard is perfect for the modern-day Marcus Brody, as he is often a joker and his mad scientist-like mannerisms and way of talking would suit the role perfectly. More than anything else, it’s all in that mischievous look on his face.
Henry - Harrison Ford
Sean Connery played Indiana’s father in The Last Crusade, and his character was very similar to his real-life persona. Henry had a short temper and even at his age, he was still a ladies’ man.
Just like Connery, Harrison Ford has grown into the same person in real life, though he’s reportedly more grumpy than ladies’ man. And though he will continue to don the fedora and whip in more sequels, at this point, Ford is more like Henry than Indiana.
Indiana Jones - Joaquin Phoenix
The one thing Joaquin Phoenix is, more than anything, it’s passionate. It’s hard to imagine any actor working today protecting a relic and yelling, “It belongs in a museum!” other than him.
The Joker actor would be perfect for the role and fans never seen Phoenix as an action hero, even though it’s something they've been clamoring for. It would also have him come full circle, as his older brother, River Phoenix, played Young Indy in The Last Crusade.