A George Lucas Decision that Changed Indiana Jones Forever – But Was it For Better?
Even though the current generation doesn’t seem to care much about Indiana Jones, it used to be a massive franchise. Steven Spielberg and George Lucas created a series of fun, adventure-filled romps, and the fedora-wearing protagonist became iconic. However, a certain decision by Lucas helped enable the franchise to continue beyond the original three films.
The Indiana Jones Idea that Became the Fourth Movie
Do you remember The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles? Probably not, but it was a successful ABC series that chronicled the adventurer in his early days. According to Slash Film, co-creator George Lucas had an idea for the show in which an episode would center around a crystal skull, and he “became fascinated with it there.” The idea ultimately never made it into the show, but it became the basis for the fourth Indy movie, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Did Crystal Skull Damage the Franchise?
Of course, certain fans might think that Lucas’s idea should have stayed on the cutting-room floor. Crystal Skull came out nineteen years after Last Crusade, giving Indy fans time to grow up and become more cynical about how their beloved childhood franchises should be treated. Much like what happened with the Star Wars prequels, audiences were not very welcoming to Crystal Skull. Moreover, while fans have warmed up to the Star Wars prequels, Indy fans have yet to warm up to Crystal Skull. Some people blame it for how the fifth movie, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, failed to make an impression with both the box office and the public.
Is Indiana Jones 5 the Final Film?
Dial of Destiny was planned to be the last film in the franchise. However, people also said that about Crystal Skull when it first came out. While Dial of Destiny may indeed be the last time we see Harrison Ford play Indy, there are rumors that a reboot of the franchise is in the works. Perhaps Indy still has a chance to connect with audiences again.
