In a new Variety profile, director James Mangold reveals how he became involved in the upcoming fifth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise and discusses his approach to the iconic character. The conversation delves into Mangold’s thoughts on the challenges of taking over from Steven Spielberg, his decision to de-age Harrison Ford, and his aspirations for the film.
Mangold explained that during the fall of 2019, while assisting with reshoots for The Call of the Wild, Ford expressed his concerns about Indiana Jones appearing too old. Ford was uncertain about the idea of being digitally de-aged for a World War II opening sequence conceived by Steven Spielberg and screenwriter David Koepp. Mangold recalled Ford’s concerns, stating, “He felt like if people saw him younger, when they confronted Indiana in his 70s, they’d be disappointed.”