Variety has learned that Steven Spielberg will no longer direct Indiana Jones 5. This is the man who gave us all of the previous films (alongside George Lucas, who drafted the stories), so this could spell trouble for the fifth entry – at least, tonally.
Spielberg hasn’t given a reason as to why he walked away from the film, but the decision was “entirely” his, which suggests that he didn’t like the script or was overburdened by other projects. The legendary director will remain as a “hands-on” producer, however.
The good news is that Lucasfilm may have already found a replacement. James Mangold, who directed The Wolverine and this year’s Oscar contender Ford v Ferrari, is reportedly in talks with the studio about helming Indiana Jones 5. Mangold has dabbled within relevant genres, such as 2010’s action-adventure comedy Knight and Day, so he should prove to be a pretty good fit for the franchise.
In a recent interview, Harrison Ford revealed that Indiana Jones 5 would begin shooting very soon, but the change in direction could mean another lengthy delay. The film has already been postponed multiple times, from its original release date of July 19, 2019 to July 10, 2020, which was extended yet again to July 9, 2021.