Shia LeBeouf Won’t Return For Indiana Jones 5…

Indiana Jones 5 is apparently finally going to happen, after several years of false starts, bogus rumors and alleged new casting announcements.

Harrison Ford will reprise his role in Indiana Jones 5 but his character’s son, Mutt Williams (a.k.a. Henry Jones III) won’t be returning. Indy’s son was played by Shia LeBeouf in 2008’s Kingdom of the Crystal Skull but screenwriter David Koepp just confirmed that LeBeof won’t appear in the film.

Koepp said, “Harrison plays Indiana Jones, that I can certainly say, and the Shia LaBeouf character is not in the film.”

His confirmation dispells rumors that a younger actor will eventually replace Ford’s iconic role. The ending of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull teased Mutt’s potential future in the franchise, with a closing scene showing Indy’s fedora ride a breeze and land at Mutt’s feet, before Ford snatched it from his hands and put it back on his own head.

While it’s almost impossible to picture anybody else other than Harrison Ford wearing Indy’s infamous fedora and carrying his whip, it kind of would make sense if The Fugitive, American Graffiti and Star Wars actor graciously stepped aside to let someone else have a crack at the part. There was even a time when it was teased that the series could be completely refashioned in the mold of  James Bond so that a younger audience could fall in love with the characters, exotic locations and daring missions to unearth the myriad of hidden treasures that are dotted around the globe. Personally, I wouldn’t want to see Ford’s Jones completely eradicated from the series. Surely there would be a place for him to advise and assist a young protégé.

“We’re plugging away at it. In terms of when we would start, I think that’s up to Mr. Spielberg and Mr. Ford,” Koepp said. He also teased that the film will involve “some precious artifact that they’re all looking for.”

“I know we’ve got a script we’re mostly happy with,” he added. “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.”

With Harrison Ford returning to the franchise, no Shia LaBeouf! (ouch, the kid did good in our eyes, shame about the dialogue that let the actor down!) How about Karen Allen? How will much will Steven Spielberg and George Lucas be involved? What will the new mysterious artefact be? Soooooooo many questions. So many answers are waiting for us to solve, just, like Indiana Jones…

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