It’s been nearly 15 years since Indiana Jones last cracked his famed bullwhip across the big screen. 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was a commercial success and got solid reviews from critics. Still, fans were lukewarm thanks to a nuked refrigerator and some swinging monkey gimmicks. All in all, Crystal Skull wasn’t the ideal send-off for the legendary adventurer and archeologist. Thankfully, Indy is gearing up for one more spin around the globe in 2023 with an as-yet-untitled fifth movie.

Indiana Jones 5 stars Harrison Ford returning as the titular Jones, alongside Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag), Mads Mikkelsen (Rogue One), Toby Jones (Captain America: The First Avenger), Boyd Holbrook (Logan), and John Rhys-Davies. The film is directed by James Mangold (Logan, The Wolverine). The storyline might as well be locked in the cavernous Area 51 warehouse shown before the end credits of Raiders of the Lost Ark, as there are nearly zero plot points aside from the possible use of flashback scenes. We know that footage from Indiana Jones 5 was screened at the recent D23 Expo and received a thunderous standing ovation from fans.

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Indiana Jones 5 looks promising, but what will it have to do to live up to its legendary predecessors?

The Story and the Artifact

     Paramount Pictures

Where many action adventures skimp in this department, the story is always a heavy emphasis in the Indiana Jones installments. The films reach deep into their respective lore and drape those elements thoroughly throughout the screen time. At the center of each story is an artifact; the Ark of the Covenant, the Sankara Stones, the Holy Grail, and… not quite sure about Crystal Skull’s trinket since they have the actual skull from the beginning. The artifacts almost become an additional cast member as they’re hallowed and referred to so often.

Since we still have no idea what archeological find Indy is searching for, it’s tough to gauge its importance in the film. Indiana Jones 5 must stick to the same formula that makes the franchise great. Since the new movie’s story will be coming from the mind of George Lucas, it’s a safe bet that the Jones protocol will be followed the fifth time out. Crystal Skull broke slightly from this well-worn path and, in turn, suffered with a meh big reveal and overall anticlimactic ending. Indiana Jones 5 will need to go back to the basics of the first three films to recapture what made those stories so memorable.

Classic Indiana Jones Action

When an Indiana Jones movie isn’t lighting a torch in search of museum fodder, it’s fist fighting or blowing stuff up. The B-movie pulpy action of the series absolutely needs to be retained to give Indiana Jones 5 a true franchise feel. Each Indy movie has a classic, trademark gunshot, punch, or general action piece.

The single shot end with the Cairo swordsman in Raiders, the rope bridge chop and fall in Temple of Doom, and the “no ticket” punch from Last Crusade. And whether we like it or not, love it or hate it, the aforementioned appliance was caught in a thermonuclear blast from Crystal Skull. These are all memorable moments wrapped in the nearly nonstop action sequences of the Indiana Jones movies.

The iconic soundtrack from composer John Williams will back the action and mark the legendary musician’s final film soundtrack. Indy 5 will need to find this momentum as well as its own signature stunt to find the lifeblood that is Indiana Jones action.

Spielberg-Esque Direction

     Universal Pictures

We don’t need to tell you that James Mangold has Spielberg-sized shoes to fill. The legendary director and steward of the Indiana Jones franchise stepped away, handing over its final chapter to Mangold. This is an excellent succession choice. Mangold has proven he can juggle big action and a big story with his Wolverine films, The Wolverine and Logan. Plus, those two movies, especially Logan, have some of the B-movie grit that defines the tone of Indiana Jones.

Mangold is a successful filmmaker in his own right, but helming an Indiana Jones movie is definitely a graduation of sorts. Asking him to match the maestro that is Spielberg is too tall a task, but retaining what makes Indiana Jones great while putting his own spin on the franchise would be a welcome end result.

Great Supporting Characters

     BBC One

While Indiana Jones is the show’s star, the franchise’s supporting cast is just as important. From Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) to Short Round (Ke Huy Quan) to Henry Jones, Sr (Sean Connery), and sorry, Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf), the characters that tag along with Jones make the movies that much better. The Indiana Jones 5 cast features a long list of players who will absolutely live up to this tradition.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge will play a character named Helena, who is Jones’ goddaughter. Waller-Bridge’s painfully short-lived black comedy series Fleabag gives us a glimpse of what the actress will bring to the franchise with her wit and sass. In other words, Waller-Bridge is tailor-made for an Indiana Jones movie. There are even rumors that she will take over the franchise with Ford’s upcoming retirement of the famous fedora.

Returning for the first time since The Last Crusade is John Rhys-Davies as Jones’ ally and scene stealer Sallah. Recurring characters are a crucial aspect of Indiana Jones, so the cheerful brawler from Cairo will be a welcome return to the cast. Throw in Boyd Holbrook, Toby Jones, Antonio Banderas Mads Mikkelsen as the villain, and Indiana Jones has nailed the casting yet again.

Between the cast, director, and legend of Indiana Jones, this fifth and final film in the series will give fans all the fortune and glory they can handle.