December 2005

Indy 4 slated to start production mid 2006?!
Thursday, December 8, 2005

Animated News mentioned that the new issue of Below the Line magazine features a list of all the films now in production. Their list also includes a very interesting update on Indy 4, that is if the magazine is correct! The magazine's list includes this:

Also confirmed is a February start for the next Harry Potter, with director David Yates, Indiana Jones 4 from "mid 2006", and James Cameron's as yet unrevealed Project 880...

We have no evidence that this info is correct. Which makes it best to consider this only a rumor.

UPDATE: Lucasfilm just denied this news. This is indeed only a rumor!

Thanks to Maxime F., Jonathan M. and Coming Soon! for the news.

Lucas is tweaking Nathanson's Indy 4 script
Tuesday, December 6, 2005

FOXNews.com reported that George Lucas went to New York yesterday only to attend the blockbuster premiere of today's hottest adventure film King Kong. Lucas just woke up one Monday morning and said, "Let's go to New York for Peter Jackson and King Kong." But that's not what this news message really is about.
Lucas mentioned to FOXNews yesterday that he is now devoting himself full-time to writing and producing Indiana Jones 4:

Lucas told me that he's got a script now from Jeff Nathanson, and he's tweaking it. That won't go on forever, he assured me, and filming will occur before Harrison Ford goes into a nursing home.

Head over to FOXNews.com for the full report.

Thanks to Shawn Banks and Andrew P. for the link.

November 2005

Lucas also wants to release Indy 4 in 3-D
Friday, November 11, 2005

Director Steven Spielberg recently attended a Q & A session at the University of Southern California film school, where he divulged a number of different things about the Jurassic Park 4 and Indy 4 projects that he is currently working on. Here's what Spielberg said about Indy:

Not much was said about Indiana Jones 4 except that Lucas and Nathanson are locked away writing the script, and that Harrison Ford will be returning. He did casually mention that Lucas wants to simultaneously release Indy 4 in 3-D.

Head over to the Development Hell website to read the full report.

Source: Coming Soon!

October 2005

Lucas confirms Indy 4 once again!
Tuesday, October 25, 2005

The big year-end award season kicked off yesterday night in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton for the 2005 Hollywood Awards. One of the award receivers was George Lucas and while he was on stage addressing the audience, he assured that Indiana Jones 4 is indeed coming. Here's what ETonline.com reported on this:

A humbled George Lucas' Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith picked up the Hollywood Movie of the Year, an accolade voted on by fans in an online poll. He also confirmed that there will be a fourth 'Indiana Jones' movie -- and yes, Harrison Ford will return to crack that whip: "It wouldn't be Indiana Jones without Harrison Ford," he smiled.

Click here to read the original article.

Thanks to Josh for the small bit of good news.

Empire Magazine published article on Indy 4
Thursday, October 20, 2005

Remember that Indiana Jones 4 survey Empire Online held last month? They asked for your serious or funny pitches for the fourth film.
Well, the people behind Empire Magazine have selected the 3 best pitches and published them together with a 4 page article about the fourth Indiana Jones film. This insightful article, written by David Hughes, gives an overview of all the past rumors and present state of Indiana Jones 4.

You can find the full 4 page article in Empire Magazine's November 2005 issue.

A big thanks to Brian for the magazine scans.

Lucas & Spielberg meet on Indy 4 next week
Friday, October 7, 2005

ComingSoon.net attended the Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith DVD junket at Skywalker Ranch yesterday. At the event, Star Wars producer Rick McCallum talked about both the new 3-D animated Clone Wars series and the live-action series in development. McCallum even took the time to give everybody an update on Indiana Jones 4!

McCallum: "[George is] doing 'Indiana Jones', the script, which he should finish by Sunday. He's meeting with Steven [Spielberg] next week to try to figure out where they are going to go and what changes they want to make on it."

You can read the full DVD junket report at ComingSoon.net.

Lucasfilm says Indy 4 cast member is a rumor
Tuesday, October 4, 2005

PR Leap, a free press release distribution site, announced 2 days ago that a model named Laura Dutta has officially landed a role in Indiana Jones 4. Here's the original press release:

It is official! Model Laura Dutta represented by ASH Models has landed a role in Indiana Jones 4. The movie is the 4th sequel in the Indiana Jones franchise and will cast Harrison Ford and Sean Connery. Indiana Jones 4 is to be directed by Steven Spielberg.

Though Miss Dutta has a three month shooting schedule, her agents from ASH Models has confirmed that she will fly to Paris during shooting to do Fashion Week.
What roll she will be playing is unknown.

Whatever the agents of Laura Dutta claim, this news is NOT official! I have contacted Lucasfilm about this and their response was "This is only a rumor and there is no new news at the moment on the movie."

Thanks to Brett Hopkins and Linus007 for the press release link.

September 2005

Fun Indy 4 comp over at Empire Online
Thursday, September 1, 2005

The UK film magazine Empire is also counting down the days for Indiana Jones 4 news. And they want to know what you think the fourth Indy film should be.

Empireonline is having a survey with questions like: Should the Nazis return as the baddies? What antiquity should Indy be chasing? And should Harrison still play Indy?
Your pitches should be no longer than 100 words and can be as serious or funny as you wish. The best efforts will run in a future issue of Empire. You can place your pitches here. Good luck!

Thanks to Richard for the link.

August 2005

Indy 4 casting call is a hoax!
Monday, August 22, 2005

Reports recently appeared that all parties involved in the fourth Indiana Jones film were happy with the final script and that final negotiations are currently underway. To back up that claim casting call's have gone out to multiple agencies. Here you can view one of these so called Indiana Jones 4 casting calls.

HOLDING AUDITIONS FOR Indiana Jones 4
Looking for male and females - very skinny with weathered looks

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO be considered SEND YOUR HEADSHOT,RESUME AND SET UP AN AUDITION --- PLEASE CONTACT 804.914.8700 for more info- ask for casting."

I contacted Lucasfilm about this Indy 4 casting call and they confirmed my suspicions. This is all a hoax!

Lucasfilm's response: The rumor that there are casting sessions underway for Indiana Jones 4 is a hoax. There are no such sessions, and no production has started on the movie.

So calling the above mentioned phone number will certainly not get you into the fourth Indiana Jones film. Official Casting calls for Indiana Jones 4 will certainly not appear on public websites. I wouldn't even count on an official casting call coming from Lucasfilm. But you never know. If Lucasfilm indeed spreads an official casting call for Indy 4, we at TheRaider.net will certainly let you know.

Thanks to Nick Douglas for the Casting Call link.

Kate Capshaw talks about women in Indy 4
Thursday, August 18, 2005

Ain't It Cool News has received a nice interview excerpt coming from People Magazine. People recently talked to Kate Capshaw about her career, family, her husband Steven Spielberg and the fourth Indiana Jones film. Let me first show you the except AICN received:

People: Is Steven doing another Indiana Jones?

Kate: "Yes, sometime next year. I believe Willie Scott's going to be making an appearance too."

People: What will that entail?

Kate: "I can't say. Not because Steven's sworn me to secrecy, but because I really don't know yet. All I know is Willie might be coming back, Karen Allen, and possibly Calista [Flockhart]. I think Harrison's going to be outweighed by the women in the next one."

The news that Lucas, Spielberg and Ford are working on a fourth Indiana Jones film has been around for over 10 years now. But the signs this year have so far been very optimistic. They have a script that is as good as finished and liked by everybody involved. And there's evidence that both production companies, Lucasfilm Ltd. & Paramount Pictures, are also working on the highly anticipated film. Everything points to Indiana Jones 4 going into production next year.
The only other project on Spielberg's slate right now is his Lincoln biopic with Liam Neeson, which is also certainly going to happen! The big question now is if Spielberg and company will decide to make Abraham Lincoln first or give priority to Indiana Jones, as that's one thing nobody knows for certain yet.

Here follows what Quint from AICN has to say about the Indiana Jones 4 project:

... I know most are skeptical of this project happening, but we know for sure that Spielberg, Lucas and Ford are happy with the new screenplay from Jeff Nathanson and the word is Spielberg is penciling Indy 4 in next year, after he finishes his Lincoln picture with Liam Neeson. To add on to that, I've gotten reports from people inside of Paramount who claim to have seen some paperwork and other items with the INDY 4 title marked clearly on them, which would seem to indicate that the film is gathering steam inside Paramount as well. Unless something big shows its face to trip up the production, I'd say we're going to be seeing our favorite leather jacket, whip and fedora again...

Head over to Ain't It Cool News to read the full report by Quint.

Thanks to Brett Hopkins and Richard Budd for showing me the AICN report.

Latest Indy 4 status update: very unreliable!
Wednesday, August 3, 2005

According to some other film news sites, the latest Indy 4 status update is the following:

Steven Spielberg has agreed in principal to Nathanson's Indy 4 script and is leaving his schedule open for Indy 4 after Munich is released. George Lucas and Jeff Nathanson are currently tweaking the Indy 4 screenplay. The tweaked draft for Indy 4 should be finished by the fall to be submitted for green light. Harrison Ford has agreed on the script as well.

According to the website that originally published this update, their source is very reliable for it is someone who is a very close friend of Steven Spielberg, and who works very close with him.
Well, when a source claims to be a very close friend of Spielberg you may be certain that everything this source says is totally unreliable, even false!

That Spielberg and Ford were pleased with Jeff Nathanson's Indiana Jones 4 script is something we already know from previous news reports. We also know that George Lucas and Nathanson are currently still tweaking the screenplay. And that Spielberg would be trying to leave his schedule open for Indy 4 after his current film Munich is released comes as no surprise either.
Just read last month's Indy 4 progress report by Kathleen Kennedy if you need more.

This same website also announced that a source within Paramount Pictures told them that the current release date for Indiana Jones 4 is February 2nd, 2007. Even this bit of news is unreliable. And if it is the date Paramount is aiming for, then you may be certain that it will change.

Only believe the information that comes directly from George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Harrison Ford, Lucasfilm or some other people who are certain to be part of the Indiana Jones 4 production team, such as Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall.

A Young Indiana Jones film in the making?
Monday, August 1, 2005

Ain't It Cool News received an interesting rumor today. First, here follows the rumor/message they received:

I work BLEEP at an international software company, and learned some news that might be of interest to you. At a recent all-hands meeting, we discussed what we're working on in the coming year. During the meeting, we learned that we will develop for LucasArts a series of new Young Indiana Jones learning games set from 1916-1919 that will be released to coincide with a 2007 Young Indiana Jones movie.

We were told that the information about the movie came straight from George Lucas to one of our executives.

This is the first I'd heard of this movie, so I thought I'd share.

This message/rumor does not claim that there is a Young Indiana Jones film in the works. And I doubt that there are such plans.
But it is likely that (if this rumor turns out to be correct!) this series of new Young Indy learning games is meant to coincide with the release of the full Adventures of Young Indiana Jones tv-series on DVD, and becoming part of the pre-Indiana Jones 4 promo campaign.

I hope to find some proof of this as soon as possible. So stay tuned!

Click here to read the original rumor report.

July 2005

Ford ready to do his own stunts in Indy 4
Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Harrison Ford has said, during an interview with UK's Saga Magazine, that he's determined to do his own stunts for Indiana Jones 4. Here follows the interesting Indy 4 part of that interview:

Ford is now back in action in Vancouver, Canada, with British actor Paul Bettany in a thriller, The Wrong Element. There have also been reports that he will next year attempt a fourth film as action-man Indiana Jones, at the age of 64. "It is now a probability," he confirms.

"George Lucas, the producer, works with a writer for a time and then the director Steven Spielberg and I work together. We have all agreed on a concept."

Has Ford’s vanity got the better of him? Is he really expecting to throw himself into action scenes? It seems so. "I have picked up plenty of bumps, bruises and cuts over the years," he says. "I have injured a shoulder and torn a hamstring – that sort of thing. But I have got so used to taking a battering, on screen as in life, that I feel anything is possible."

Click here to read the full interview.

Source: Coming Soon!

An Indy 4 progress report by Kathleen Kennedy
Friday, July 8, 2005

Now Playing Magazine had an interview with Kathleen Kennedy about Indiana Jones 4. And what she says about the fourth Indy project sounds very promising!
The screenplay is being finished at the moment, and when they're all happy with the result, Indy 4 will be more than likely to be the next thing they do.

"We’re working on a screenplay," says Kennedy, long-time producing partner of Steven Spielberg. "I know this sounds like something that we’ve been saying for 15 years, but I’m hoping that we’re going to see something in a couple of months. Jeff Nathanson is working on the script right now… I will say this: If it comes in and we’re all happy with it, it will be more than likely the next thing we do."

Kennedy acknowledges that previous reports of Nathanson’s script being "approved" by Indy producer George Lucas and director Spielberg were true, but that doesn’t quite mean what it sounds like it does.

"It’s one thing to approve something, it’s another thing to say it’s greenlit and we’re shooting it. So we’re just in that sort of phase of finessing," she says, before responding to a question about whether or not star Harrison Ford is too old for the part these days. "No, I don’t think so. Certainly we’re not writing the script as though he’s 20 years old. You know, Sean Connery spent a lot of time in the Bond role and whatnot. I think it’s great that we can go make another Indiana Jones movie and Indy can be a little older. I think playing with that is a good thing."

So it’ll take place in the ’50s then?

"Ahhhh, yeah. The late ’40s."

And who are the bad guys going to be?

"I’m not going to tell you the story!" she laughs. "What do you think, I’m nuts?! You’ll be here next year and ask me if I’m working on the Indy movie. 'No, I got fired!'"

Steven Spielberg has already begun filming his next project, a film about the aftermath of the 1972 massacre of 11 Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics. Click here for more info on that film.
So it is expected that Spielberg will finish production on this film near the end of this year. And according to what Kathleen Kennedy just said, if all goes right we may see Indy 4 go into production just after that. Placing Spielberg's Abe Lincoln bio-picture on hold.

I can't confirm this yet but I'll sure keep you up to date here at TheRaider.net!

Thanks to Heiko for the news.

June 2005

Spielberg not planning to share the plot of Indy 4
Monday, June 13, 2005

There's no point trying, Steven Spielberg will absolutely, positively not reveal the plot for Indiana Jones 4 without the approval by George Lucas. Spielberg said he and George Lucas are working on this film together.

"If I did that, my really good friend and collaborator would have me on a silver platter," Spielberg told AP Radio. "I gotta be careful because if I tell you that he might take over directing Indy 4 himself. And I won't have a job."

Head over to MSN News for the full report.

Thanks to Brett for letting me know!

Calista Flockhart has an eye on Indy
Monday, June 13, 2005

USA Today talked with Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford during the 33rd AFI Life Achievement Award tribute to George Lucas. Spielberg said screenwriter Jeff Nathanson is finishing a script for Indiana Jones 4 by the end of this summer

Spielberg said writer Jeff Nathanson (Speed 2, Rush Hour 2 and 3) is readying a script for Indiana Jones 4 by summer's end. Asked whether Flockhart would play Indy's new leading lady, Ford said, "She would of course make her own decision."

Flockhart said she's up for a 2006 adventure. "Oh, yes," she said. "If I could kick his (butt), absolutely!"

It was previously reported that both Lucas and Spielberg had signed off on the script and that Ford had not read it yet. Lucas recently summoned Nathanson to his headquarters, where they went over the draft. The writer also got notes from Spielberg before continuing on to finish the script.
And if Calista Flockhart will indeed be Indy's new leading lady? You never know but this was not a confirmation.

Source: ComingSoon.net

Ford told Lucas to hurry up with Indy IV
Saturday, June 11, 2005

You can read a full report of the 33rd AFI Life Achievement Award tribute to George Lucas online at AICN.com.
Many of the original Star Wars trilogy actors appeared on stage, including Harrison Ford with Chewbacca at his side. And Ford later re-appeared for Indiana Jones with a good joke! Here's what the report at AICN.com says about this:

Then Harrison is back out again, this time for Indie Jones. He is funnier this time, and points directly at Lucas and yells "and if he wants to do a forth one, he'd better HURRY UP, because Sean Connery is getting too old to play my father!" Fun moment, and you could tell Lucas is laughing.

You can read the full report on this cool AFI event here.

Lucas now focusing on Indy 4 for a 100%
Friday, June 10, 2005

George Lucas was selected to receive the 33rd AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor for a career in film. The award was presented at a gala tribute on June 9th in Los Angeles.

As you might have read in the previous news message, IESB.net was also present at AFI's tribute to George Lucas last night. They not only spoke with Steven Spielberg but also got the chance to ask George Lucas about Indiana Jones 4.

"I don't know. I've been working on Star Wars for a long time. I've been working on Indiana Jones for about six years, but now I'm focusing on it for a 100%. And the writer and I hopefully will get something for those guys (Spielberg and Ford) to look at in the fall."

Thank you uncle George, that's great & hope giving news. All eyes set on this fall!
Check out the video interview with George Lucas here.

And a big thanks to Robert Sanchez from IESB.net for both the great Spielberg & George Lucas interviews.

The 33rd AFI Life Achievement Award tribute will be broadcast on USA Network on Monday, June 20.

Spielberg dispels Indy 4 working title rumor
Friday, June 10, 2005

Good news, the Indiana Jones and the Opal of the Mer-Man Prince working title was indeed a joke by Harrison Ford. It has been confirmed by Steven Spielberg. And the people at IESB.net have it on video!

IESB.net was present at AFI's tribute to George Lucas last night. They spoke with Steven Spielberg after the show and got to ask if the alleged Indy 4 title, Indiana Jones and the Opal of the Mer-Man Prince, revealed by Harrison Ford was real.

"I'll dispel one rumor... I think Harrison was so pulling your chain when he said that. That is not the title. I read that and I cracked up", says Spielberg. "That's Harrison, he's got a great sense of humor and I love the fact that it got on the internet and everyone thinks that's the title, but that's not the title."

When asked if Indy 4 was going to happen before or after his Abraham Lincoln project with Liam Neeson, Spielberg said, "I'm not prepared to tell you that."

Check out the video interview with Steven Spielberg here.

Has Harrison spilled the working title of Indy 4?
Saturday, June 4, 2005

AICN.com received a message from someone who was present at a fundraiser held by the Democrats 2 days ago. Hillary Clinton and Harrison Ford were present at this fundraiser. And according to a certain Xorn, Harrison Ford revealed Indy 4's working title to him and some other students present. Apparently it's Indiana Jones and the Opal of the Mer-Man Prince. Here follows the original message:

I went to a big hollywood fundraiser last night that helped to raise money for the DNC. I am a member of the young democrats at my university and was lucky enough to be selected to attend. There were tons of celebs there one of which was the great Harrison Ford. Being a HUGE Indiana Jones fan I could not pass up the chance to talk to Mr. Ford. He is a great guy and took the time to talk to a loT of the students that attended.

Now for the big news. I asked him about the new Indiana Jones 4 script and he said that he was in the process of reading it. Then out of no where he dropped the biggest bombshell I could possibly imagine.

The working title of Indiana Jones 4 is.........

INDIANA JONES and the OPAL OF THE MER-MAN PRINCE

If you use this call me Xorn

Sounds like Harrison Ford had a blast at this fundraiser and was screwing around with some students. Or this Xorn guy made it up all by himself. Whatever you think, better take this news with a grain of salt.

Fun fact: the title of the upcoming 6th Harry Potter novel is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Thanks to Bill, Rick and Heiko for letting me know.

May 2005

Lucas finally approves Indiana Jones 4 script!
Sunday, May 29, 2005

Isn't it about time? According to Variety, Lucas has finally approved Jeff Nathason version of the Indiana Jones 4 script.

Nathanson's draft for Indiana Jones 4 has apparently met with the approval of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. But before Paramount can move forward, Harrison Ford still has to sign off on the script, and he hasn't yet read it.

The trade adds that with Star Wars off his plate, Lucas recently summoned Nathanson to his Bay Area headquarters, where they went over the draft. The screenwriter also got notes from Spielberg, who brought him into the mix after working with him on Catch Me if You Can and Terminal.

Now Harrison Ford has to approve the script and once that is done, we could be finally getting close to Indy 4 than ever before. Steven Spielberg is currently working on post production of War of the Worlds and is schedule to direct the Untitled Olympic Film due for December 2005.

Source: Coming Soon!

Lucas announced Indy 4 in front of 1.300 fans
Tuesday, May 17, 2005

To mark the UK premiere of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, London's Leicester Square has been holding a day-long celebration. The 1.300 Star Wars fans who were attendant got the shock of their lives when George Lucas was introduced to them.

Star Wars producer Rick McCallum entered the cinema first to wild applause, which got increasingly intense, as first actor Ian McDiarmid (Chancellor Palpatine), Hayden Christensen (Annakin Skywalker) and Lucas himself were paraded in front of the 1,300 fans.

"The reason we are all here. The Jedi master himself," said McCallum, introducing Lucas.

"Are you guys crazy or what," yelled Lucas, struggling to make himself heard over the noise of the crowd.

Lucas described London as the "home of Star Wars".

To chants of "three more films" he said: "This is the tragedy of Darth Vader. It starts when he is 9 years old and ends when he is dead. There is no more story."

A chorus of boos rang out around the cinema but Lucas quickly won the fans back over, saying: "I'm working on the next Indiana Jones."

Well, here you have it. An Indiana Jones 4 announcement directly from Lucas' own mouth, in front of about 1.300 eyewitnesses!

Go to BBC NEWS to read the full celebration report. And thanks to 'soapboxtop' at The Raven for letting us know.

Lucas briefly mentions Indy 4 script again
Monday, May 9, 2005

The website Static Multimedia has an interview with George Lucas online. During this interview they briefly asked Lucas about Indiana Jones 4. Here's the answer they got from Lucas:

"Yep. I got a script last week and I'm going to work with the writer next week and you know, we have a ways to go on it."

Head over to Static Multimedia for the full interview.

Indy 4 in the realm of the supernatural
Tuesday, May 3, 2005

This week's issue of TIME Magazine contains a Q&A with George Lucas. In this interview Lucas talks about how he works, his fear of failure and the sort of movies he really wants to make.But of course he also talks about Episode III and Indiana Jones 4! Apparently, Indy 4 will again have some supernatural elements!

Lucas: "You know, I said three's fine. And then I came up with an idea I thought was brilliant, so I told the other guys [Spielberg and Ford], and they kind of flipped out. It's 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. Steven is committed to shooting it next year. I just got the latest script yesterday."

This is a great quote coming from George Lucas as he also mentioned that Steven Spielberg is committed to start principal photography on Indiana Jones 4 next year!
Spielberg's War of the Worlds is currently in post production and Steven will start shooting his next 1972 Olympics Vengeance film in Hungary this June!

Head over to the TIME Magazine website to read part of this interview. Or buy the latest issue in a store near you. This week's issue is filled with Star Wars stuff!

April 2005

Lucas talks about Indy 4 story idea!
Friday, April 29, 2005

Hollywood.com recently had a chat with George Lucas about Star Wars' future but also about the upcoming Indiana Jones 4! Here follows the interesting Indy 4 part of the interview with Lucas:

Hollywood: And what's the status of the new Indiana Jones?

Lucas: "I talked to Steven while I was in Hawaii, and he said the script is done and he was going to send it to me when I got back, which was yesterday. It isn't on my desk today and he's coming up tomorrow to see Star Wars, so I assume he'll bring it with him."

Hollywood: You guys do well when you collaborate in Hawaii. Things tend to work out there.

Lucas: "Yeah. We're frantically trying to finish War of the Worlds at the same time. We'll see. I look forward to reading it and seeing if it's what we laid out in the first place. You never know."

Hollywood: Is there anything we can reveal about it?

Lucas: "It's...um...No."

Hollywood: You had an idea of what was planned before they wrote the script?

Lucas: "Oh yeah. I came up with this idea doing Young Indy, which has got to be about seven or eight years ago, and we've been through a number of scripts--six or eight scripts. Six scripts, two rewrites. So it's been down the path. There were certain aspects of it that Steven and Harrison [Ford] didn't like, and so we changed those, and then we laid out a version and it didn't come out the way it was supposed to, and then we did another version and it didn't come out, so we've just been going through this development hell, which happens once in a while. We'll see. When it comes out, it'll be different. Different, but the same."

Hollywood: And Harrison's staying in shape all this time, right, in case he has to take his shirt off?

Lucas: "No, he's plays an older person in this."

Hollywood: Is it true that there may be a younger person in this, poised to take over?

Lucas: "It's possible. Not really to take over."

Hollywood: But someone to create new movies with?

Lucas: "No, it wasn't meant to be that way. But I guess that's a possibility. It's really to wrap it up. Just desperately trying to put things together that work. You need characters to make the film work. It's not just an adventure story. There's actually got to be human relationships in it."

Hollywood: Are you still planning on bringing back some of the other characters from the previous films?

Lucas: "Yeah."

Hollywood: Can you say who?

Lucas: "No." [laughs]

Hollywood: Mrs. Spielberg, perhaps?

Lucas: "Well, there are a lot of rumors out there. Some of them are true. True-ish."

This Young Indy idea George Lucas mentions here above sounds intriguing to say the least! And this interview is probably taken sometime last week as George Lucas and Steven Spielberg already had this meeting earlier this week.
So expect more Indiana Jones 4 news soon, and you'll read all about it here on TheRaider.net!

Click here to read the full interview with George Lucas.

Lucas says Indy 4 is definitely in the works
Sunday, April 24, 2005

StarWars.com has posted an official summary of George Lucas' first convention appearance since 1987 at Celebration III yesterday. The summary confirms what Rick McCallum said about Indy 4 two days ago! Here's an except of Lucas' appearance:

Regarding the grown up Indiana Jones, people wanted to know when the man in the hat was coming back. "As a matter of fact, I just received the new script two days ago. I have yet to read it," he said. "I'd like to be able to read it this weekend. I'll be talking to Steven on Monday, and then we'll figure out what we're going to do. So, it's definitely in the works."

It's good to hear George Lucas talking about Indiana Jones 4. And especially if he says that he and Spielberg will have an Indy 4 meeting tomorrow. Let's all cross our fingers and hope that they both like this latest script draft and agree to start production on Indy 4 within a year! So stay tuned as we're keeping an eye on this!

Go to StarWars.com to read the full summary.

McCallum gives Indy 4 production status update
Friday, April 22, 2005

Star Wars & The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones producer Rick McCallum had his Spectacular presentation today at Celebration III. McCallum also gave some information on the current status of Indiana Jones 4:

• Lucas got a script for Indiana Jones 4 last week. (approved?)
• Spielberg plans to make Indy 4 after his next film.
• Any recasting of Harrison Ford due to any more delays is definitely out of the question.

About Rick McCallum saying that Spielberg plans to make Indy 4 the film he does after his next one, War of the Worlds is his current film! The next film on Spielberg's schedule is the 1972 Olympics/Mossad Film which should start production later this year. So according to McCallum, we may expect to see Spielberg filming Indy 4 once the Olympics project is in the can. Indy 4 could be for next summer folks!!

Thanks to Christian P, Philboski, TheForce.net & IESB for the news.

March 2005

Indy 4 script could be ready next month
Friday, March 18, 2005

In a lengthy article about digital 3D cinema, George Lucas mentioned that Indiana Jones 4 won't be in 3D and that he expects to see the latest draft of the Indy 4 script in a month.

Lucas admitted that he abandoned plans to shoot Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith in 3-D. "It was too early in the process to meet all our dates," he said. And when asked if the fourth "Indiana Jones" film, long in development, will be made in 3-D, he said it would be hard enough to persuade Steven Spielberg to shoot on digital video. He said the latest version of the script is due back to him in a month or so.

You can read the full article containing this "hope giving" news at Variety.com.

February 2005

Writer David Koepp to blame for Indy 4 delays?
Friday, February 25, 2005

An article by MTV.com gives the impression that screenplay writer David Koepp is to blame for the long delay of Indiana Jones 4. Here's what they posted:

Ever since Last Crusade thrilled us in 1989, we've been wondering which bad guy would try to take down Indiana Jones next. Now, we may finally have the name of our villain: veteran screenwriter David Koepp. "This wouldn't have happened so fast if it had not been for David Koepp," said Steven Spielberg about War of the Worlds, the Koepp-penned script whose production took Spielberg's attention away from a fourth Indiana Jones adventure. "We go through the whole development process all the time, making movies, and sometimes you're really intent to make a picture, like I was with Indy 4. [But] my producer didn't like the script as much as I did. My intention was to make Indy 4 a year and a half ago, but it didn't work out. Now I'm hoping to make it a year and a half from now."

Of course David Koepp can't be blamed for the delays of Indy 4. The fact is that George Lucas wasn't as happy with Darabont's Indy 4 script as Spielberg was. So the script needed some extra time in the hands of a different writer, named Jeff Nathanson.
David Koepp just had the luck to have the War of the Worlds script finished at the right moment.

Head over to MTV.com for the original article.

Spielberg's Munich Olympics film for this summer?
Wednesday, February 16, 2005

The chance that Indiana Jones 4 will get into production this year is getting very slim. The Hollywood Reporter wrote today that Spielberg will start shooting his film about the 1972 Munich Olympics this summer for a planned release on December 23.

The untitled project had been set to go before the cameras last year. Preproduction had begun in Europe and casting was under way when Spielberg decided to have Angels in America playwright Tony Kushner do a rewrite on the project, on which writers Eric Roth and Charles Randolph also had worked.

With the project postponed, Spielberg moved quickly to begin filming his adaptation of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds which Paramount will release June 29.

Spielberg now plans to begin filming the Munich project in the summer.

Head over to The Hollywood Reporter to read the original news message.

Thanks to Maxime and ComingSoon.net for the news.

Connery still hopes to play Indy's father again
Saturday, February 12, 2005

Contactmusic.com posted a short article on Sir Sean Connery who missed out on a staggering $17.5 million payday because he walked away from the leading role in upcoming movie Josiah's Canon.
This article contains a quote from Connery, expressing his hopes to reprise the role as Indy's father one more time in the upcoming Indiana Jones 4.

But Connery is ready to return if the right project comes along - and he is desperate to reprise his role as Indiana Jones' father if a fourth installment of George Lucas' action adventures ever reaches the silver screen.

The actor's publicist, Nancy Seltzer, says, "He's not interested in just doing anything, to work for the sake of working... He's taken some time off to write his memoirs but he hasn't retired."

"When I asked him if he'd play Indiana Jones' father again in another sequel, he said, 'Of course I would. Don't be ridiculous.'"

Click here to read the full article.

Thanks to Michael and MI6.co.uk for letting me know.

Indy 4 made in a year and a half from now?
Friday, February 11, 2005

During a great interview with Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise about their War of the Worlds Spielberg had a brief comment on Indiana Jones 4 for Dark Horizons. He hopes to make Indy 4 in a year and a half from now, maybe less.

Spielberg: "... You know, we go through the whole development process all the time in making movies, and sometimes you really are intent on making a picture, you know, like I was with Indy 4, in which case my producer didn't like the script as much as I did, but in the sense of, you know, my intention was to make Indy 4 ago and it didn't work out. I'm hoping to make it a year and a half from now, maybe less. But the idea is, you gotta have the screenplay,..."

Steven Spielberg has just expressed his "hopes" on Indy 4. Nothing is still set in stone. It can happen in a year and a half from now, but it can very well sooner.

Click here to read the full on-set interview with Spielberg & Cruise.

Indy 4 script finished in about a month?!
Friday, February 11, 2005

During an interview with Kathleen Kennedy, producer of War of the Worlds and many more Spielberg films, she told Freeze Dried Movies that writer Jeff Nathanson is still working on the new Indiana Jones 4 script, which could be finished next month!

FDM: How about [the status on] Indiana Jones 4?
Kennedy: "We’re going to see a script in about a month."

FDM: Who’s the screenwriter?
Kennedy: "Jeff Nathanson"

FDM: Will Sean Connery be back?
Kennedy: "Until I read the script I won’t really know."

And as you can read, it's still unclear if Sean Connery will be back to play Indy's father.

Click here to read the original news message.