It looks like Shia Lebeouf won’t be going on any more adventures with Indiana Jones.
While Disney and Lucasfilm have plans to bring Indiana Jones back for a fifth movie, those plans don’t include Indy’s son, Mutt Williams (a.k.a. Henry Jones III), who was played by Shia LeBeouf in 2008’s Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Screenwriter David Koepp stated,
“Harrison plays Indiana Jones, that I can certainly say,” “And the Shia LaBeouf character is not in the film.”
In addition to confirming that LeBeouf will not be returning for the fifth film in the series, Koepp has also dispelled rumors that Ford will be replaced by a younger actor, either playing the Indiana Jones role in a prequel story or playing a different character who is taking over where the older adventurer left off. Koepp also confirmed that Steven Spielberg, the director of all the Indiana Jones movies, is mostly pleased with the current script for Indy’s next adventures.
“We’re plugging away at it. In terms of when we would start, I think that’s up to Mr. Spielberg and Mr. Ford,” he said. Koepp goes on to tease that the movie will involve “some precious artifact that they’re all looking for.”
“I know we’ve got a script we’re mostly happy with,” he continues. “Work will be endless, of course, and ongoing, and Steven just finished shooting The Post …. If the stars align, hopefully, it’ll be his next film.”
The fifth Indiana Jones movie is currently scheduled for a July 2020 release.
