Ever since he was introduced in Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones has become one of the most beloved cinematic heroes of all time. The adventuring archaeologist is the perfect combination of brains and brawn with Harrison Ford grounding him as a character we can relate to.
While not all his adventures have been well-received, fans are eager to see Dr. Jones appear on the big screen again. While a sequel with Ford and Steven Spielberg is apparently coming, some fans are wondering if a reboot of the franchise would be better. There are pros and cons to both decisions that are worth exploring. Here are some reasons Indiana Jones should get a sequel and some reasons it should be a reboot.
Sequel: Harrison Ford’s Icon Status
Some actors just define roles, and Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones is certainly one of them. He seems so perfectly suited for the role and turned it into something more iconic than most actors probably could have.
The thought of seeing someone else as Indy is hard to take. While the names of some good actors have been thrown around as potential replacements, it’s difficult to imagine them coming across as anything else other than someone just dressed up as Indiana Jones. Ford may very well be the only actor who is fit to hold that whip and wear that fedora.
Reboot: Harrison Ford’s Age
While Ford was born to play the role of Indiana Jones, sadly, it might be time to admit that his time as the iconic hero has passed. Ford is in his late 70s, and while he is impressively fit for his age, it seems very unlikely that he can pull off the action hero role convincingly.
There’s no shame in Ford transitioning from these kinds of roles to ones that are more age-appropriate. Also, as much as we enjoy seeing Indy in a new adventure, seeing a story of him dealing with old age doesn’t sound appealing.
Sequel: End On A High Note
Many fans assumed Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade would be Jones’ last big-screen adventure. It seemed like a fitting end, but then along came The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Thanks to a cartoonish plot, some silly sequences and a few unpopular new characters, the movie was a disappointment for most fans.
While that movie might have dampened enthusiasm for a new adventure, it’s also a good reason for them to continue the story. Having TheKingdom of the Crystal Skull be the final Indy film for Spielberg and Ford seems like a disservice. It would be nice to see them get a final crack at the series they started.
Reboot: A Fresh Take
The thought of Spielberg and Ford returning to this franchise is an immediately enticing idea. But then we remembered that they returned to the franchise once before and the result was a less-than-stellar sequel.
As much as the franchise is owed to these two icons, it might be time for some fresh blood to come in and give their take on Indiana Jones. Hopefully, the original team will want to see the character continue, and would allow some new filmmakers to give it a try.
Sequel: No Fan Film
The problem with a new filmmaker or actor coming to continue the series is that these will be people who grew up on the franchise. They are presumably fans of the Indiana Jones films, and would be making the reboot as fans. While this might sound like a good thing, it doesn’t always result in the best film.
There are plenty of fans of J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars films, but there are also many who see them as devoted to the originals to a fault. Sometimes when people are so precious about the property, it results in an unadventurous fan film. A sequel could be a better avenue to allow the character to grow.
Reboot: Time Period
Part of the fun of the Indiana Jones films was invoking the old adventure serials of the past, which were very much an inspiration for the film. Making Jones a hero of the past gives the films a timeless feel. And it’s always fun to see a hero like Jones beat up Nazis.
Seeing Indy take on Russians in the 1950s was interesting but felt a little off. That film was over ten years ago which means by the time they get around to making a sequel it will have to be set in the ’70s, which doesn’t sound like Indy. A reboot would allow us to see more adventures of Indy in the ’40s or even earlier.
Sequel: Steven Spielberg
Harrison Ford is the most important part of the Indiana Jones franchise in front of the camera, but Steven Spielberg is just as important behind the camera. Spielberg has directed every film in the series, infusing them with his signature movie magic, making them huge crowd-pleasers.
Spielberg has talked about his desire to continue the franchise with Ford. If a reboot is in the cards, it’s unlikely Spielberg will want to be involved without Ford returning. As the notion of an actor replacing Ford seems unthinkable, it’s equally unsettling to think that another director would have to recreate that Spielberg feel.
Reboot: James Bond Approach
Whenever anyone brings up the idea of recasting Indiana Jones, those who support the idea often point to James Bond as an example of how it could work. Sean Connery seemingly defined the role, yet the character has now been played by six different actors and counting.
While we might have a hard time picturing someone else as Indy now, all it takes is a bit of good casting to change our minds. If Indy became a character who could be traded from actor to actor, this franchise could go on forever.
Sequel: Proper Conclusion
The idea of seeing Indy adventures for years to come sounds appealing, but not every franchise needs to be James Bond. Sometimes it feels fitting for a series to reach its end and give its fans a conclusion. Indiana Jones might be just that kind of franchise.
The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull did not satisfy fans, but if the original team gets another shot at it, maybe they could end Indy’s story in a way that we’ll be okay with not seeing any more of the character.
Reboot: New Adventures To Come
Given the ages of the original team, it’s pretty safe to say that any sequel that might happen will be their last outing with Indiana Jones. It might seem selfish, but maybe we’re not ready to say goodbye to the character, even if Harrison Ford is.
While a sequel would be the end of the journey, a reboot would be setting up a whole new journey. Like with Star Wars, we could be watching Indiana Jones movies for the foreseeable future, which is hard for any fans to turn down.
