Indiana Jones 5 Director Says a TV Series Spinoff Was 'Purely Speculative'

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny director James Mangold has responded to rumors regarding a potential spinoff series on Disney+, stating that they were "purely speculative."

During an interview on Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast, Mangold clarified the earlier reports surrounding a potential Indiana Jones spinoff centered on the adventures of Abner Ravenwood, Marion Ravenwood's (Karen Allen) father who was referenced in 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark. While Mangold confirmed that the Ravenwood project was indeed being developed, he emphasized that the notion of Lucasfilm moving forward with the series was unfounded. "I did take a look at what they were developing for that show, but I believe it was purely speculative in terms of its actual production," Mangold explained. "Furthermore, it had no connection to the Indiana Jones franchise itself. It existed within the same world, but it was a separate entity."

In the extensive history of the franchise, spanning over 42 years, only one spinoff television series has been created: The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. This show aired on ABC for two seasons from 1992 to 1993 and primarily focused on the educational aspect of Indiana Jones' life, exploring his early youth and teenage years. Notably, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles featured an episode titled "Young Indiana Jones and the Mystery of the Blues," which included bookend segments with a 50-year-old Harrison Ford reprising the titular role.

The Future of the Indiana Jones Franchise

During the post-production phase of Dial of Destiny, widespread speculation circulated on the internet regarding Lucasfilm's plans to develop an Indiana Jones series exclusively for Disney+. However, the reported setback of Disney's Willow series and their increased focus on expanding the Star Wars universe purportedly halted the idea of an Indiana Jones spinoff. As the release of Dial of Destiny drew nearer, Kathleen Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm, hinted at the possibility of the Indiana Jones franchise continuing on the small screen without the involvement of Harrison Ford, who is bidding farewell to the iconic role in the latest installment.

Kennedy stated, "This will be [Harrison Ford's] final contribution. That's how we perceive the Indy franchise. Honestly, if we were to pursue anything further, it might be in the form of a television series in the future, but we have no intentions of replacing Indiana Jones. This is the culmination. Harrison is integral and unparalleled in shaping this character. Steven [Spielberg] concurs; we simply wouldn't consider such a move."

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is currently being shown in theaters.

Source: The Direct