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Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny: Everything you need to know about Indy 5!

Everything we know about the fifth installment in the whip-cracking adventures of everyone's favorite fedora-wearing, Nazi-punching archaeologist!

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Image credit: Lucasfilm

It's been nearly 15 years since the last Indiana Jones movie, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and over 40 years since Harrison Ford first donned Indy's signature hat, cracked his bullwhip and outran a boulder to cement the character in the hearts of moviegoers. But after several fits and starts, the fifth Indiana Jones movie, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, is finally ready to go. (Buy tickets on Fandango or Atom Tickets)

Harrison Ford is in and Steven Spielberg is out. But what else do we know about Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny? Read on to find out!

Who is in the Indiana Jones 5 cast and crew?

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny still
Image credit: Lucasfilm

Harrison Ford is back, of course, as the titular Indiana Jones, and he's joined by his Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade co-star John Rhys-Davies as Sallah.

New cast members of note include Mads Mikkelsen and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, as well as Antonio Banderas, Boyd Holbrook, Toby Jones, and Thomas Kretschmann.

Here are character posters for the major cast:

Picking up the reins from Steven Spielberg (who directed the previous four Indy films and co-created the character) is director James Mangold, working from a screenplay by Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth (both Spielberg as well as George Lucas remain on as credited producers of the film).

Notably, the maybe-not-retired-after-all John Williams is back as well, composing the score for the movie as he's done for all previous Indiana Jones films.

So what's the Indy 5 plot?

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny still
Image credit: Lucasfilm

Not surprisingly, much of the plot has been kept under wraps thus far, but we do know the film is set in 1969 against the backdrop of the Space Race, with Indy uncomfortable over the way the US government has recruited former Nazis to help it beat the Soviets to the moon. One such Nazi-turned-NASA-member, Jurgen Voller (played by Mads Mikkelsen, so he's, you know, the bad guy), is seeking a device to help him undo what he believes to be the mistakes of the past, while Indy becomes embroiled in the conflict by his goddaughter, Helena Shaw (played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge). High-stakes action, globetrotting adventure, and fisticuffs presumably ensue.

Where was Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny filmed?

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny still
Image credit: Lucasfilm

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny filmed from June 2021 through February 2022, at locations including England and Scotland, Italy, and Morocco.

Notably, director James Mangold has said he avoided using the Volume (the cutting edge video wall developed by ILM for The Mandalorian, which allows filmmakers to depict exotic locales on a budget), preferring instead to film on location and recreate the globe-trotting feel of the earlier movies in the franchise, while also prioritizing practical effects over CGI whenever possible.

Where are the Indiana Jones 5 trailers?

Three trailers for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny have been released thus far. The first was released on December 1, 2022, and also served as the announcement for the full title of the movie.

A second trailer was released during Super Bowl LVII on February 12, 2023.

The third trailer was released during Star Wars Celebration Europe on April 7, 2023.

So what is the Indiana Jones 5 release date?

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny still
Image credit: Lucasfilm

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is scheduled for US theatrical release on June 30, 2023. This represents the film's fifth release date, having been shuffled around the calendar like many films at this time due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, if you are planning to attend the Cannes Film Festival this year, the festival has confirned that Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will premiere on May 18 at Cannes, out of competition, along with a tribute to Harrison Ford's career. So superfans might benefit from moseying their way over to the French Riviera to catch the movie a month early.

Is Shia LaBeouf in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny?

Shia LaBeouf as Mutt
Image credit: LucasFilm

Shia LaBeouf's Mutt remains one of the more controversial elements of the last Indiana Jones movie, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, a film which received mixed reviews (at best). Revealed over the course of the movie to be Indy's son by way of his Raiders of the Lost Ark paramour Marion Ravenwood, in hindsight the film was clearly setting up a scenario in which Mutt could take up the whip and fedora and serve as a new Indiana Jones, allowing the series to continue sans Harrison Ford.

Not surprisingly, director James Mangold has stated Lebouf will not be reprising the role in Dial of Destiny, likely due to a combination of fans' poor reaction to the character/Crystal Skull overall, and Lebouf…being at a different point in his career now (and not being a fan of the role himself). Mangold has promised, however, that audiences will "find out what happened" to Mutt in the course of Dial of Destiny.

Let's talk about: Harrison Ford's age in Indy 5

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny still
Image credit: Lucasfilm

Sure, but to quote a certain square-jawed archaeologist, it's not the years, it's the mileage.

Ford was just shy of his 79th birthday when filming on Dial of Destiny began, and will be just shy of 81 when the film releases.

According to James Mangold, Ford — and thus, Indy's — age will be a major part of the film's themes, saying he wanted to steer directly into the perceived liability of the actors/character's age and connect it to the thematic notion of "heroes at sunset", of finding themselves in world that no longer has a place for them, where the black hat/white hat sensibilities of the earlier films in the series have become more complicated.

That said, the film's action-packed opening sequence (continuing the franchise tradition) is said to be set in 1944, and utilizing a variety of de-aging technologies (including new software developed by ILM which scans old footage to match the appearance of the character in the new footage) to present an Indiana Jones closer in age to that of the original three films while still being played by Harrison Ford. Ford himself has praised the final outcome of the de-aging process, calling it, "the first time I've seen it where I believe it."

Will there be an Indiana Jones 6?

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny still
Image credit: Lucasfilm

Nothing has been officially announced, and Harrison Ford insists both that this is his last go-round as Indiana Jones, and that he is Indiana Jones; when he goes, the character goes.

Disney did announce in November 2022 that it was developing an Indiana Jones series for Disney+; details — including whether the film would center on Ford's Jones or some other character, or merely be set in the world of the films without a direct link to the character, etc. — remain unknown, and the series is still considered "in development", making it effectively one step closer to happening than "nothing", but not much closer to happening than that.

There is certainly a history of Disney using streaming content to connect to films and explore the worlds of beloved characters, but the relative success of Dial of Destiny — as well as Ford's future involvement or lack thereof — will likely be significant contributing factors to the creation of any future Indiana Jones content.

What if I need an Indiana Jones refresher course?

Indiana Jones
Image credit: Lucasfilm

The previous Indiana Jones films are currently available to stream on Paramount+ and Amazon Prime (if you want to just stick with the original three and skip Crystal Skull, no one will blame you), and whether you want to watch them in release or chronological order, we have got you covered. Bonus points if you want to work the fun and unique Young Indiana Jones Chronicles TV series into your prepwork as well, but it's generally not considered essential viewing.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will be released June 30, 2023. Buy tickets on Fandango or Atom Tickets.

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Austin Gorton avatar

Austin Gorton

Contributing writer

Austin is a pop culture writer whose work has also appeared in Polygon, Comics XF, Shelfdust, and Comic Book Herald.

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