Steven Spielberg makes a clear statement: Indiana Jones will survive next movie

By Rick Marshall Updated June 15, 2016

Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. — Lucasfilm

All of the pieces are falling into place for the next installment of the Indiana Jones franchise, but director Steven Spielberg isn’t afraid to play spoiler when it comes to one particular question on fans’ minds.

Given franchise star Harrison Ford’s recent return to the role of Han Solo in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the actor’s decision to don Indiana Jones’ fedora and bullwhip once again has led many to wonder what sort of similarities they can expect to see in the two iconic characters’ returns to the screen. Of course, if you haven’t seen The Force Awakens yet, you should probably consider this a spoiler warning before reading on.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter about his upcoming slate of films, Spielberg expressed excitement about returning to the character he first introduced in 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark — and assured fans that Indiana Jones won’t suffer the same fate as Ford’s space-faring Star Wars smuggler, Han Solo.

“I think this one is straight down the pike for the fans,” said Spielberg of the fifth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise. “The one thing I will tell you is I’m not killing off Harrison [Ford] at the end of it.”

Now 73 years old, Ford is expected to play the role of torch-passer in his return to the series, even if his character doesn’t meet his absolute end.

Other than Spielberg and Ford’s involvement, little is known about the plot of the fifth Indiana Jones movie at this point. Oscar-winning composer John Williams, who provided the original, iconic music for Raiders of the Lost Ark, has also been confirmed to return and provide the score for the next film.

Along with Spielberg in the director’s chair, the Indiana Jones sequel will feature a script by Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Jurassic Park screenwriter David Koepp.

Still untitled, the fifth Indiana Jones movie is scheduled to hit theaters July 19, 2019.

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