- Harrison Ford explained at Cannes Film Festival why he's through playing Indiana Jones.
- "I need to sit down and rest a little bit," the 80-year-old Ford said.
"Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" isn't just a long time coming for its star Harrison Ford, but also a swan song for the 80-year-old actor.
The star has confirmed that the fifth movie in the franchise will be his last playing the iconic character.
"Is it not evident?" Ford responded with a laugh during a press conference on Friday at the Cannes Film Festival when asked why he's finally hanging up Indy's fedora and bullwhip. The movie had its world premiere at the glitzy fest on Thursday.
"I need to sit down and rest a little bit," he continued, referring to his age.
—Variety (@Variety) May 19, 2023
The movie, from "Logan" director James Mangold (marking the first time a title in the franchise hasn't been helmed by Steven Spielberg), has gone through many forms and false starts since Indy's last adventure, 2008's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."
But Ford said what is on the screen is a worthy exit for his character.
"I wanted to see a good movie," Ford answered when asked what was required for him to come back for the fifth movie.
"I wanted to see a completion of the five films," he continued. "I wanted to round out the story. I wanted to see this man who depended so much on his youth and a vigor of youth — I wanted to see the weight of life on him. I wanted to see him require reinvention.."
"And I wanted him to have a relationship that was not a kind of flirty movie relationship," he added, referring to the character played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who is his goddaughter in the movie. "I wanted him to have a deep relationship with somebody.""And I wanted to work with Jim, which was proposed at a certain point," referring to Mangold. "And I cannot have been better served with a script, with the kind of actors that we've been lucky enough to get, with the passion and skill Jim brought to it, and John Williams brought to it. Everything has come together to support me at my old age."
—Variety (@Variety) May 19, 2023
Insider saw an action sequence from "Dial of Destiny" at CinemaCon that featured the fun dynamic between Indy and Waller-Bridge's character, Helena, in the movie. It also featured new music from composer John Williams. From the footage, we can say there are definitely lots of thrills in this one.
"Dial of Destiny" received a five-minute standing ovation following its premiere at Cannes Thursday. But its true test will come when it opens for all audiences on June 30.