Indiana Jones is an action franchise spanning the course of more than 40 years, following the adventures of archeologist Henry “Indiana” Jones Jr. (Harrison Ford) as he takes on the tasks of retrieving valuable artifacts and saving them from getting into the wrong hands. He’s tackled everything from the Ark of the Covenant to the Holy Grail, saving these precious artifacts from being abused by the wrong people. With four films currently in the franchise, Indiana Jones has become an iconic figure in cinematic history, earning an array of video games and even a number of theme park rides. The films collectively took home seven Academy Awards and even gained a nomination for Steven Spielberg for Best Director.

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Steven Spielberg was responsible for directing all films so far in the franchise; however, that has recently changed. Since the reveal of Indiana Jones 5, much has been buzzing about the potential plot as well as speculation over the new cast and crew. While Spielberg was originally lined up to direct the new film, it was later revealed that Spielberg exited the project, with James Mangold is set to take over while Spielberg remains in his seat as a producer. This may seem like a terrible decision on behalf of the franchise that Spielberg started and carried across four films, but the decision was not made lightly.

It Was Spielberg’s Decision to Step Away As Director

     Paramount Pictures

While some may believe that Spielberg was ousted due to his age or due to Disney wanting to head in a different direction with the franchise, this is not the case. The decision to step away from the film as director was entirely Spielberg’s idea. The concept for Indiana Jones 5 was first conceived in 2016, but due to a number of disputes, the production was continually delayed. Spielberg was originally lined up as the director for the fifth and seemingly final film of the franchise, but he ultimately made the decision to resign as director of the film. It’s no surprise that this award-winning director has the ability to decide what films he chooses to work on and how much he contributes to said films. His directorial departure has some critics concerned that the film may not live up to expectations, however, Spielberg has good reason for backing away.

Spielberg Wishes to Bring a New Perspective to Indiana Jones

By hanging up his directorial hat for the finale of the Indiana Jones franchise, Spielberg is giving someone new the opportunity to explore the character. According to Variety, Spielberg believed that having a new director would allow “a new generation to bring their perspective to the story.” James Mangold, director of Marvel hits The Wolverine and the Oscar-nominated Logan, is set to take his place as director of Indiana Jones 5. Spielberg’s purpose in resigning may seem arbitrary, but his reasoning is more logical than you would think. Since Spielberg worked on the first four films, the Indiana Jones franchise has maintained a certain perspective that Spielberg has masterfully captured since the release of Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981. After more than four decades of holding the reins of the franchise, Spielberg has obviously decided that in order for the character and his story to remain relatable to the younger generations, a new perspective must arise, one which Spielberg is not able to give.

Spielberg Will Still Produce Indiana Jones 5

Despite stepping back from his role as director, Spielberg will still act as a producer on the film. As a result, Spielberg is not out of the picture entirely. With decades of experience and accolades under his belt, Spielberg’s expertise is invaluable on set, and he will, no doubt, be providing a helping hand to Mangold as he takes on the monstrous task of filling Spielberg’s shoes. The untitled finale of the franchise is set to be released in 2023 with Harrison Ford reprising his role as the whip-bearing hero. A number of new cast members have been confirmed, including Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, and even Antonio Banderas. It’s hard to tell how the film will turn out, but there are high hopes with Spielberg acting as producer right behind Mangold.