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Spielberg & Lucas Approve Indy 4 Script 404

Posted by Zonk from the indiana-jones-and-the-scary-nursing-home dept.
Anonymous Coward writes "According to an article on ComingSoon.net, the script for the fourth Indiana Jones movie is moving forward. Lucas and Spielberg have agreed on the writing, with only Harrison Ford still required to sign off on the project before it can go into pre-production. Ford has yet to read the script."
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Spielberg & Lucas Approve Indy 4 Script More

Spielberg & Lucas Approve Indy 4 Script

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  • What could possibly go wrong? (Score:5, Funny)

    by gumpish ( 682245 ) on Monday May 30, 2005 @12:28AM (#12674032) Journal
    From the directors who brought you A.I. and The Phantom Menace...

    • Re:What could possibly go wrong? (Score:5, Informative)

      by datafr0g ( 831498 ) <[moc.liamg] [ta] [gorfatad]> on Monday May 30, 2005 @12:33AM (#12674065) Homepage
      And Jaws
      And Starwars
      And Close Encounters
      And Schindlers List
      And Raiders of The Lost Ark
      And Duel
      And many others...

      These guys have a pretty good batting average if you ask me...

      • Re:What could possibly go wrong? (Score:4, Insightful)

        by gordgekko ( 574109 ) on Monday May 30, 2005 @12:49AM (#12674165) Homepage
        How many of those did George Lucas write?
      • And Jaws
        And Starwars
        And Close Encounters
        And Schindlers List
        And Raiders of The Lost Ark
        And Duel
        And many others...
        ... and that AI was actually a good movie. But I guess the moderation of my post will depend on the opinion of the movie by the randomly selected dude with the mod points.

        • Re:What could possibly go wrong? (Score:5, Funny)

          by martin-boundary ( 547041 ) on Monday May 30, 2005 @01:18AM (#12674272)
          Hah! Your reverse psychology won't work on me! I just got mod points right now, and right after I post this reply you're going down baby... Huh? where's my mod points? D'oh!
      • How many of those were made in the past ten years? Right.

        Even famous directors can lose their edge. I present as evidence every George Lucas or Stephen Spielberg movie made since Russia swore in its first president.
    • AI was an awesome movie, IMHO. Also, check this out:

      http://www.brightlightsfilm.com/48/ai.htm [brightlightsfilm.com]

    • Re:What could possibly go wrong? (Score:5, Funny)

      by Brad1138 ( 590148 ) <brad1138@yahoo.com> on Monday May 30, 2005 @01:32AM (#12674336)
      "Howard the Duck"
      enough said

    • 1% Inspiration But 99% Perspiration (Score:5, Interesting)

      by reporter ( 666905 ) on Monday May 30, 2005 @05:21AM (#12675183) Homepage
      With all due respect to George Lucas, I would prefer that Lucas confine himself to developing the overall game plan. He suggests the big picture and the major points in the plot.

      Then, Steven Spielberg concentrates on the details. He fleshes out the plot, and Harrison Ford throws in the ad lib.

      In short, Lucas should be the inspiration, and Spielberg should be the perspiration. Star Wars I & II is sufficient reason to keep Lucas in check.

      As for the plot, since Harrison Ford is much older now, the appropriate theme would be something in the 1960s because the prior Indy films were set in the 1940s. The great tyrrany in the 1960s is, of course, mainland China and the Chinese occupation of Tibet. We could have Dr. Jones trekking to Tibet to find some lost artifact after first consulting with the Dalai Lama. Spielberg could throw in some old footage of the Chinese waving their little red Mao books at the height of the cultural revolution. There is also some old footage of Chinese soldiers randomly shooting at Tibetans.

      Since Ford is a Buddhist and an admirer of the Dalai Lama, he would likely support such a plot.

    • Hilter: Join me, Indy! Come over to the Nazi side!
      Indy: No!
      Hitler: Please?
      Indy: OK! Do you have any children you want me to kill?

    • What could possibly go wrong?

      • Indiana will get a new sidekick named "Jar-Jar".
      • When he wants to seduce his leading lady, Indiana will start talking about sand.
        He will also find out that the leading lady is his long-lost fraternal twin sister, which will be kind of a downer.
        Fortunately, he will discover this before he succeeds in his seduction attempts, so that nothing too naughty happens.
      • Prior to the release of the fourth movie, the first three movies will be re-released with special effects and scene

  • Is this... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 30, 2005 @12:28AM (#12674033)
    Is this the fabled indiana jones/star wars crossover, where indy is revealed to be han solo?

    I hope so!

    • Re:Is this... (Score:4, Funny)

      by Finuvir ( 596566 ) <rparle@noSpAM.soylentred.net> on Monday May 30, 2005 @09:19AM (#12675962) Homepage
      At first I thought you were joking but then I did a bit of research and it turns out that you're not far from the truth! Apparently both characters were played by the same actor! Some guy named Harrison Ford. I wonder if he's been in anything else good?

      Pretty cool piece of trivia for you movie buffs, huh? Your friends will never believe you when you tell them.

  • one of the best (Score:4, Informative)

    by cryptoz ( 878581 ) <jns@jacobsheehy.com> on Monday May 30, 2005 @12:29AM (#12674039) Homepage Journal
    Being a Star Wars fan as well as an Indiana Jones fan, I am of the opinion that Harrison Ford has been one of the best actors recent movies have seen. Though I suppose it could be debated that he's a bit old for the role, I'm still quite happy to see this!

    When Lucas came back to Star Wars, it took him six years to get it right again. Lets hope Indiana Jones can do it a tad better....

    • Not too old! (Score:4, Interesting)

      by John Seminal ( 698722 ) on Monday May 30, 2005 @12:41AM (#12674116) Journal
      Being a Star Wars fan as well as an Indiana Jones fan, I am of the opinion that Harrison Ford has been one of the best actors recent movies have seen. Though I suppose it could be debated that he's a bit old for the role, I'm still quite happy to see this!

      The great thing about the Indy character is his smarts. Half the time he gets out of trouble because he thinks his way out, not because he uses force. Can Sean Connery play James Bond today? I think he could. Can Ford play Indy, I think he can.

      I can't wait for Indy 4, the previous movies were awesome.

      Indy is like MacGyver on steroids.

      Lets just hope they get a good script, a good story, one that gets the intellect and imagination flowing together. Those movies are so rare.

      I wonder how many people went into history or archeology because of the Indy movies?


      • > Can Sean Connery play James Bond today? I think he could.

        I'd love to see Connery reprise as James Bond called out of retirement for some emergency that needed his talent. Provided the script didn't suck.

        As for Indy IV, Ford's age suggests a movie set in the late '50s or early '60s, so it might be fun to have him run in to James Bond during the course of his adventure.

      • I wonder how many people went into history or archeology because of the Indy movies?

        Four

    • "Being a Star Wars fan as well as an Indiana Jones fan, I am of the opinion that Harrison Ford has been one of the best actors recent movies have seen."

      While I agree that he has star power, I am surprised by the phrase "best actor" being used in the same sentence as "Harrison Ford." That big crate containing the ark in the final scene of "Raiders" was less wooden than Mr. Ford. I don't think it's a coincidence that he was a carpenter before he got into "acting."

      However, he's nothing if not consisten

    • Re:one of the best (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Chasuk ( 62477 )
      I'm going to be honest, but I don't consider Harrison Ford an actor at all. A critic somewhere referred to him as a "reassuring presence," which I think sums him up perfectly. This isn't a criticism of Harrison Ford, mind you. Likewise, I don't consider Arnold Schwarzenegger or Clint Eastwood "actors," but rather people who are merchandizable because we like their personalities. Yes, I've seen all, or nearly all, of each of their movies. But I haven't seen any of them "act" yet.

    • Re:one of the best (Score:5, Funny)

      by damsa ( 840364 ) on Monday May 30, 2005 @04:32AM (#12675012)
      They should replace Ford like they replaced him on Sum of All Fears. With Affleck. With Kevin Smith directing it, who wouldn't want to see it.

      Parallels with Lucas and Smith are a many. Lucas had coming of age comedies, American Graffiti, Smith had Mallrats, both have shameless merchandising tie ins with their movies, and endless rereleases. They both released crappy prequels, Phantom Menance and Mallrats, prequel to Clerks. Lucas has R2D2 and 3CPO. Smith has Silent Bob and Jay. Lucas has Hair, Smith has Hair,

      I think I proved my case. I think we should do an online petition to have the next Indy be made by Kevin Smith.

  • Indiana Jones And The Search For Actor Approval (Score:4, Insightful)

    by ScentCone ( 795499 ) on Monday May 30, 2005 @12:29AM (#12674040)
    Of the script? Is Ford really that able to make or break the script once he's agreed to do the project? Or, has he, essentially, not yet even agreed? With the buzz this has, isn't he more or less already beholden to do it?
  • I don't have any blind loyalty to Harrison Ford as Indy. River Phoenix played Indy well in the TV series. A scrawl of blocky pixels played Indy well in the LucasArts games.

    Indiana Jones is a character, and played well, can be played by anyone.

    Though he hasn't been around lately, the range of an actor like Jim Carrey can bring new life to this old character. Wit, intelligence, and a talking buttcrack are things that typify Indy. With the possible exceptions of Morgan Freeman and Harrison Ford himself (

  • How 'bout (Score:4, Funny)

    by Himring ( 646324 ) on Monday May 30, 2005 @12:31AM (#12674050) Homepage Journal
    Evil SS Nazi: "So, Dr Jones, boxes or briefs?..."

    Jones: "Depends...."

  • Call me crazy... (Score:3, Insightful)

    by craenor ( 623901 ) on Monday May 30, 2005 @12:34AM (#12674071) Homepage
    But for everyone who says Harrison Ford is too old...why not just make Indiana Jones older?

    Set the movie in the late 1950's and you are good to go. *shrugs*
    • Plot Summary: Steven Spielberg says that the film will feature all of Jones' former babes in various cameo roles. Karen Allen is expected to be back for one soundbite, and other Indy girls who had smaller roles will be coming back. It is still up in the air whether or not Kate Capshaw, Spielberg's wife, will make an appearance. Sean Connery as Indy's father will be back for a few scenes, and the film is set in the early '50s.

      From one of the linked sites off the 'article'. So they did make him older, and
    • what's with the "why not" and the "*shrugs*"

      It's already been said on record (I think by Frank Marshall) that Indy 4 will be set in the 50s.

  • All I want to know is... (Score:3, Funny)

    by myowntrueself ( 607117 ) on Monday May 30, 2005 @12:35AM (#12674081)
    will Angelina Jolie be in it, starring as Lara Croft?
    • There is so much that can not be done with a PG movie. Everyone spazed because the Star Wars Sith flick was rated PG-13.

      Imagine what could be done with an R Indy movie. We could examine more of Indy's character. Instead of the bedroom doors closing, and the next scene being in the morning, we could see how Indy negotiates the night away. Imagine seeing Indy in a hot tub with two big hooters in his face. And he gets the girl because he is a nerd, he gets the girl because he talks to her about archeology.

  • Seems like it's going to be an interesting continuity-versus-drama challenge in that, if Indy can't die (having drank from the Holy Grail in the previous movie), what enemies/threats does he really have for the assumed action scenes?

    (From a link off the main linked page)

    Speaking about the story, Lucas adds that is it "vaguely in the realm of the supernatural. We have to accept the fact that Indiana Jones is an older man. But it's been hell getting a script out of it."

    Seems like it would have to be..
    • ...if Indy can't die (having drank from the Holy Grail in the previous movie), what enemies/threats does he really have for the assumed action scenes?
      The effect of drinking from the grail only had effect within the borders of the temple. Once past the seal on the floor, you were no longer immortal.

    • Re:Isn't Indiana now immortal? (Score:5, Informative)

      by keraneuology ( 760918 ) on Monday May 30, 2005 @12:45AM (#12674147) Journal
      Seems like it's going to be an interesting continuity-versus-drama challenge in that, if Indy can't die (having drank from the Holy Grail in the previous movie), what enemies/threats does he really have for the assumed action scenes?

      He doesn't have immortality - the knight was quite clear that the price of eternal life requires that one never pass over the great seal. To maintain immortality it would appear that one would have to regularly drink from the cup.

      You have chosen wisely. But the Grail cannot pass beyond the Great Seal. That is the boundary and the price of immortality.

      - Knight Guardian

  • in part 4, (Score:5, Funny)

    by SQLz ( 564901 ) on Monday May 30, 2005 @12:38AM (#12674094) Homepage Journal
    ...Indiana Jones never whips first. He dodges laser beams then whips the blaster pistol from their hand....oh wait.

  • Cold war. Classic dames. (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 30, 2005 @12:42AM (#12674119)
    My understanding is that this *will* be set in the fifties, at the height of the cold war. Early rumors included Karen Allen reprising her role from the first film, although I understand that's fallen by the wayside.

    A damned shame. Karen Allen carried the first Indy movie every bit as much as Harrison Ford did, and that's largely the reason why it's considered so superior to the latter two. I have no doubt this will be a fun movie - Indy three surely was - but if they want it to really sing, they'd bring her back as well.
  • Om nam shivai!! Om nam shivai!! Om nam shivai!! Om nam shivai!!



    blakespot

  • Checklist for Harrison. (Score:5, Funny)

    by Poietes ( 753035 ) on Monday May 30, 2005 @12:44AM (#12674131)

    Harrison better make sure it has all the essentials. It's not good to mess with the formula that geeks have come to know and love:

    • Snakes, and Indy saying how much he hates them.
    • Guns, and Indy saying how much he hates them.
    • Nazis.
    • A big nasty strong guy whom Indy defeats with cunning rather than brawn.
    • A scrawny little guy with pince-nez glasses and a thick accent.
    • An artifact of supernatural powers.
    • A scene in which the terrible power of the artifact is realised.
    • Hat and bullwhip.
    • Sassy love interest.
    • John Rhys-Davies in a red fez.
    • Denholm Elliot stuttering his way through his lines.
    • One or more booby traps.

    That second to last one could prove to be quite difficult.

    • Heh, if they updated the setting too much, we'd have Indy getting to his destination, and his gun and bullwhip would be missing from his luggage, with a simple note saying that the TSA had to inspect his bags, sorry for any inconvenience...
    • Or just buy the original trilogy.
    • Denholm Elliot stuttering his way through his lines.
      Since he's dead that'll be an opportunity for Lucas to put some more CGI in.

    • Erm... Dernholm Elliot was only a stuttering buffoon in the Last Crusade. In the first Indy he seemed quite lucid and full of vigour, and it was implied that he may have once been something of an adventurer. He says that he would have gone after the Ark of the Covenant himself had he been younger, or something to that effect.

      The Last Crusade is a great film, but it screwed over the characters of both Marcus Brody and Sallah - Sallah was a wily and resourceful fellow in the first film, but in Last Crusade

    • Hey! (Score:4, Funny)

      by Black Parrot ( 19622 ) on Monday May 30, 2005 @01:51AM (#12674400)


      > Harrison better make sure it has all the essentials. It's not good to mess with the formula that geeks have come to know and love:

      * Snakes, and Indy saying how much he hates them.
      * Guns, and Indy saying how much he hates them.
      * Nazis.
      * A big nasty strong guy whom Indy defeats with cunning rather than brawn.
      * A scrawny little guy with pince-nez glasses and a thick accent.
      * An artifact of supernatural powers.
      * A scene in which the terrible power of the artifact is realised.
      * Hat and bullwhip.
      * Sassy love interest.
      * John Rhys-Davies in a red fez.
      * Denholm Elliot stuttering his way through his lines.
      * One or more booby traps.

      Sounds like the details of the script have already leaked out...



    • Let's mix it up a bit and see if we can get a John Waters film out of some of the same ingredients...

      * A big nasty strong Nazi snake with pince-nez glasses and a thick accent.
      * A scrawny little guy with supernatural boobies.
      * Sassy love interest played by John Rhys-Davies in a red fez, who unleashes the terrible power of the bullwhip on Denholm Elliot.
  • A pistol holster and clip for his whip on either side of the walking-frame...
  • That's not the end of the world. Maybe the script is a rip-off of Bubba Ho-tep.

  • what if (Score:3, Interesting)

    by WilyCoder ( 736280 ) on Monday May 30, 2005 @12:50AM (#12674169)
    What if Indy was a dad, like Sean Connery was? Suddenly all the complaints of old age fade away...
    • "What if Indy was a dad, like Sean Connery was? Suddenly all the complaints of old age fade away..."

      Are you kidding? It'd fuel a new breed of complaints.

      The problem with movie sequals, ESPECIALLY with movies that have already had a couple of them, is that people start seeing rules getting formed. Suddenly, everybody KNOWS how to make a sequal for that franchise. When one of thoes rules is broken, suddenly people rise and argue with it. (Usually passing this off as intelligence.) Even devastating rat

  • pay attention, you faceless bully of snippiness (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Leontes ( 653331 ) on Monday May 30, 2005 @12:50AM (#12674171)
    We had just watched Last Crusade for the fourth time, freshman in highschool, loving the ford/connery interaction, still jazzed about the marvelous escape into the crevice from petra's treasury. This idiot senior responded to my vague hope that they would make a fourth film, with self-righteous incredulity. "It was the LAST crusade get it? Get it?" Rolling his eyes, knowingly. I then proceeded to attempt to explain how the crusade was actually a reference to the fact that indiana et al were searching for the holy grail much like crusaders during the middle ages, but the person looked at me like I was nuts. He wouldn't hear of it, wouldn't listen to my insistence on a better, correct interpretation of the title. My inability to get through to this idiot still haunts me to this day: I'm far more able to explicate my points and get through to idiotic self-righteous assholes, but I feel like I failed this git. Hopefully, wherever this refuse is now, he'll hear this news and recognize what an idiot he was and have a moment of quiet reflection on how he shouldn't have been so sophmoronic.

  • Fate of Atlantis? (Score:2, Insightful)

    by eddy ( 18759 )
    So is it based on the Fate of Atlantis?

  • Potential Titles they are kicking around (Score:5, Funny)

    by lobsterGun ( 415085 ) on Monday May 30, 2005 @01:00AM (#12674210)

    Indiana Jones and the Magical Walker.

    Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Viagra

    Indiana Jones and the Grandchildren that never call.

    Indiana Jones: Barely Alive

    Indiana Jones: The Exploitation Sequel

  • Lucas will screw it up, I'd wager... (Score:4, Interesting)

    by rice_burners_suck ( 243660 ) on Monday May 30, 2005 @01:05AM (#12674224)
    The first three Indiana Jones movies were classic and beautiful. The movie felt realistic and compelling, in much the same way as the original three Star Wars movies.

    I sincerely hope that Lucas won't royally fsck up Indiana Jones part 4 like he did with the Star Wars prequel(s). (I only watched the first one in the theater. It sucked so much that I skipped the second one entirely. My friends say the third is ok, so I'll wait until it gets to the cheap theater and then check it out.)

    The biggest problem with the prequel(s) is this: The first three movies (meaning, episodes 4 through 6) used special effects in moderation. Costumes were consistent from one scene to the next and between movies. Everything appeared as it should. Yes, there were special effects, as we obviously don't have starships to fly around and film. But most of the movie's genius was in the simplicity and creativity of its photography and setting selection. Scenes were filmed in the desert, or in a forest, and these appeared quite realistic. Unfortunately, the prequel(s) were much more about special effects than good film technique. Even the acting sucked. And need I mention that the costumes and technology are not consistent, neither with the original three movies, nor from one scene to the next in the prequel(s). This damaged the movie, rather than provide added value.

    I really have a feeling that Indy 4 will be all about special effects and corny acting than a compelling movie like the first three in that series, and that guess is based on past experience with Lucas. (Speilberg, I don't know, he still has some sense, I suppose, so hopefully he'll balance it out.)

    • Re:Lucas will screw it up, I'd wager... (Score:5, Insightful)

      by cybpunks3 ( 612218 ) on Monday May 30, 2005 @01:53AM (#12674404)
      That is the fear. However, the difference between an Indy movie and the SW Prequels is that Lucas wouldn't be directing.

      In the prequels, Lucas surrounded himself with yes men who were too grateful to be associated with the "legend" to talk back to him.

      Spielberg is a true contemporary of Lucas' and has no reason to pull punches. He would not let the Indy franchise go down with bad dialogue in order to save Lucas' ego.

      Spielberg doesn't direct movies the way Richard Marquand did in ROTJ. He would not just be a puppet for Lucas. He would be able to make it work. He would let Lucas do what he's good at, which is come up with good action choreography, and fill in the rest.

    • but Lucas was instrumental in the creation of Indiana Jones as the original movie was born out of ideas each bounced off the other on a vacation to Hawaii. It's a collaborative effort between the two.

      According to Wikipedia [wikipedia.org], Indiana Jones is the combination of Spielberg's desire for a James Bond type movie with Lucas' love of the serialized "Republic" adventures of his childhood. Lucas even suggested the name "Jones" when Spielberg objected to the original name, a bland sounding "Indiana Smith".

      In the p

    • The second Indiana Jones movie wasn't that great (Score:4, Insightful)

      by jesterzog ( 189797 ) on Monday May 30, 2005 @03:34AM (#12674787) Journal

      The first three Indiana Jones movies were classic and beautiful. The movie felt realistic and compelling, in much the same way as the original three Star Wars movies.

      Perhaps I'm mis-remembering, or maybe we just have different opinions, but personally I thought that the second Indiana Jones movie wasn't anywhere near the standard of the other two.

      Raiders was a lot of fun, with both the script and the acting. It also had several very strong characters, including Marion Ravenwood, who's possibly one of the best female characters to have come out of a 1980's Hollywood movie.

      In the Temple of Doom, this was all traded in for what seemed to be the boring stereotypical mid-80's movie formula at the time: a whinging helpless city girl being dragged along on an adventure, repeatedly made to look stupid by both Indy and an irritating 10-year old boy. The plot and the acting were both below standard.

      I thought that Last Crusade was back to the original standard, though.

      Indianna Jones is a really cool movie trilogy, and to be honest it's one of my favourites. I don't think you can look at it, though, and claim that it was classic and beautiful. I might go as far as saying that about two of the movies, but it severely trailed off in the middle. Maybe Lucas just got lucky with the original Star Wars movies.

  • Seriously.

    Why don't you think they are going to do the original three Star Wars movies again?

    Because we already have too many preconceptions and expectations as to the characters' appearances, mannerisms, etc.

    I seriously think I would need a LOT of therapy if they make Indy a different actor. I love James Bond and all, but that actor swapping really tripeed me out.

    And Jim Carrey? Dude. DOOOODE. I hope you were kidding. (Everyone knows that Indiana Jones has a butt-chin. P-sha!)
  • George Lucas approves! I guess it must be good then.

    Harrison Ford has a better track record of picking good scripts. If he signs off on it I'll feel better.

  • ... just Harrison' Ford's approval (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Infonaut ( 96956 ) <infonaut@gmail.com> on Monday May 30, 2005 @02:20AM (#12674490) Homepage Journal
    with only Harrison Ford still required to sign off on the project before it can go into pre-production.

    Whew! THAT'S ALL!!

  • Don't do it, George!!! (Score:5, Funny)

    by inkswamp ( 233692 ) on Monday May 30, 2005 @05:26AM (#12675192)
    Dear Mr. Lucas,

    Please don't make another Indy movie. You see, no matter how well executed it is, no matter how well-conceived it is, no matter how grandiose your overall plans are, the fans will inevitably nitpick it to death and ruin it for the young generation (and the young at heart) your films are generally meant for. I'm afraid my generation, despite growing up with your magical films, has become whiny and pathetic and we bitch and moan when you don't do thing 100% exactly like we expect. We want you to be just like the McDonalds we also grew up with. Make the next Indy film the most perfect Big Mac with Large Fries or we'll scream and shout that you've raped our childhood and that you suck beyond all comprehension.

    Quite frankly, I love your films, but I don't know if I can handle another heaping, steaming pile of "fan" reaction yet again.

    Thanks for hearing me out.

  • Ford and the script (Score:3, Funny)

    by Theatetus ( 521747 ) on Monday May 30, 2005 @08:08AM (#12675668) Journal
    Ford has yet to read the script.

    Dag, what's taking him so long? The script's been on Gnutella for weeks!

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