'Indiana Jones 5' Screenwriter Says George Lucas Hasn't Been Involved in the Script
George Lucas created the character of professor-archaeologist-adventurer Indiana Jones back in the early ’80s, and had a primary hand in conceiving the stories featured in his first four feature films (all directed by Steven Spielberg). However, when asked about the in-the-works fifth installment in the popular franchise, screenwriter David Koepp revealed that, this time around, Lucas hasn’t been involved in the story process.
While doing press for Inferno (which he also wrote), Koepp was asked by Collider’s Steve Weintraub if the Star Wars creator would be pitching in on Indiana Jones 5 — especially since Spielberg himself previously announced that Lucas would be an executive producer on the project. Koepp’s answer? “He’s not, to my knowledge. I’ve had no contact with him.”
That’s certainly a stunner of sorts, given Lucas’s primary role on past Indy sagas. With 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull proving to be something of a letdown, it appears Koepp — who was credited with penning Crystal Skull — will shape the material himself. In doing so, the screenwriter said that the crucial thing about any Indy outing is the MacGuffin, or the device or artifact that triggers the plot.
“I think that what [Indy] looks for and when he looks for it dictates what the movie’s gonna be,” said Koepp. “So the selection of the MacGuffin is everything.” For Crystal Skull, which was set in the late 50s, the production team took inspiration from classic sci-fi, rather than the World War II influences of the earlier movies. “That was a really conscious decision that dictated a lot about what the story would be and what the movie would be like, and I think that was followed through on really nicely,” said Koepp. “Learning how that’s the importance of the choice of the MacGuffin is a big deal.”
Koepp also said that the sequel — which will bring back star Harrison Ford — is moving forward, and that everyone is enthusiastic about its “clean and simple” premise. Spielberg’s busy schedule (he just wrapped principal photography on Ready Player One, and is next shooting The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara) means the production’s actual start date remains up in the air. Nonetheless, Disney has Indiana Jones 5 slated for a July 19, 2019 release, so things should be ramping up soon.
You can read the rest of Collider’s chat with Koepp here.
Watch a trailer for ‘Crystal Skull:’
