5 Reasons Indiana Jones 5 Should NOT Be Made (And 5 Reasons It Should)

In February 2020 Variety announced that Steven Spielberg was no longer directing Indiana Jones 5 and had passed the torch to Logan director James Mangold, stating:

"Spielberg will remain as a hands-on producer on “Indy 5.” According to a source close to the filmmaker, the decision to leave the director’s chair was entirely Spielberg’s, in a desire to pass along Indy’s whip to a new generation to bring their perspective to the story."

Spielberg created the character of Indiana Jones in the late 1970s, after expressing a desire to direct a James bond movie. George Lucas explained that he 'had something better than Bond' and the rest is history. Well, archeology.

Spielberg's decision to exit the project, as custodian and lifeblood of the franchise, came as a massive blow to fans. The appeal of the Jones movies is not just the character but in the storytelling; the romance of Raiders, the horror of Temple Of Doom and the fractured father/son dynamic of the Last Crusade.

Spielberg's human touch shines through (most) of these films in a way that any other director would struggle to replicate. He displays total mastery over action and massive set pieces, the flying wing, the truck chase, the snakes, the creepy crawlies, the mine car pursuit and who can forget the basket chase and market place take-down in Raiders.

His decision to leave should be a reason to ditch the project, but in the words of Yoda, "There is another..."