We all know to take online rumors with a grain of salt, but when it comes from The DisInsider — the same outlet that correctly scooped ‘The Incredibles 3’ months before Disney confirmed it — it’s worth paying attention.
According to their latest report, Lucasfilm is quietly preparing to reboot the ‘Indiana Jones’ franchise, but not before giving it a bit of breathing room. The studio is reportedly letting the IP “rest for a bit” before launching a full-scale reboot, with an official announcement possibly coming as early as next year’s D23 Expo.
Despite the box-office failure of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” Disney and Lucasfilm apparently still see the property as a core brand. And why wouldn’t they? Indy remains the crown jewel of Lucasfilm’s non-Star Wars output. It was never going to be left in the vault for long — not when there’s still money (and nostalgia) to be mined.
It’s possible that moviegoers were so turned off by 2008’s ‘Kingdom of Crystal Skull’ that they decided to tune out ‘Dial of Destiny’ by the time it rolled around in theaters. However, James Mangold — who directed ‘Dial of Destiny—recently told Deadline that it might have had to do with audience reluctance to watch an 81-year-old Harrison Ford reprise the role.
The price tag for “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” was a ridiculous $329M. It ended up grossing a disappointing $384M worldwide, which amounted to $134M in losses for Disney (via Forbes). In comparison, ‘Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,’ earned more than $790M globally. The franchise has officially hit a dead end.
It’s no surprise, then, that Harrison Ford has officially retired the character. Rumors of a reboot centered around Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s character fizzled out, as did the fleeting talk of Chris Pratt stepping into Ford’s boots. In a rare show of restraint, Disney opted not to pursue either direction.
Still, the door isn’t completely shut. A relaunch will likely happen — this is Hollywood, after all — but Disney would be wise to tread carefully. Today’s audiences are increasingly skeptical of recycled IP, and Indiana Jones is sacred ground for many.