Haunting the Web Since 1999
It’s not the years, honey, it’s the mileage…lots of depressing news about the sorry state of our government today, so here’s a mental sorbet of sorts: Steven Spielberg and the Indy 4 powers-that-be have released an official still of Harrison Ford back in costume as America’s favorite crusading academic, Henry Jones Jr. (a guy who, it may be remembered, also tried and failed to get this government to cough up its secrets. From the Ark of the Covenant to Abu Ghraib and Cheney…sigh.)
Dr. Henry Jones, Jr. garners some more distinguished colleagues for Indy 4 with announcements that John Hurt has joined the film (some sites say as Albert Einstein, others as Abner Ravenwood), as has Jim Broadbent (in what’s likely to be a Marcus Brody-type role.) Already on board: Cate Blanchett, Shia La Boeuf, and Ray Winstone.
As closure to the Indy 4 casting rumors posted a few weeks ago: It turns out that Shia La Boeuf is in fact in for Dr. Jones’ fourth adventure (as is Cate Blanchett and Ray Winstone, but sadly, no Sallah), likely as the prodigal son. La Boeuf seems like a solid actor, all in all, but as I said before, I’ve got a bad feeling about this.
He is the monarch of the sea…? Word hits that Ray Winstone of Sexy Beast, The Departed and The Proposition has signed on for Indiana Jones IV. “Although the film’s plot is being closely guarded, sources said Winstone will play star Harrison Ford’s sidekick.”
Also breaking during my west coast sojourn, the lovely Cate Blanchett will apparently star in Indy IV, I’m presuming as Dr. Jones’ love interest. Well, Blanchett definitely adds star wattage and acting chops to the ledger. But, really, doesn’t Jones have unfinished business with Marian Ravenwood? Act your age, Indy.
Also in fanboy casting and Spielberg news, Shia La Boeuf — confirmed by Variety only yesterday — shoots down rumors that he’s been cast as the progeny of Indiana Jones. “Would he deny it if offered though? The IESB says according to him ‘depends on what the script is about, he doesn’t want to go in as just a sidekick character’.”
If adventure has a name, it must be…Shia LaBoeuf? AICN and others report a rumor that the Transformers/Bobby actor is set to play Indy’s son in the forthcoming Indiana Jones sequel. Nothing against LaBoeuf, but the idea of an Indy Jr. running around with Ford and Connery sets off red flags for me, particularly given George Lucas’ recent track record.
We’ve heard it a few times before, but apparently this time it’s for real: A Steven Spielberg-directed Indy 4 is a go, with a David Koepp script and a planned May 2008 release.
“It costs about $1,200 for a print and about $200 for a digital print. So what you do is charge the distributor the same $1,200 they would ordinarily be charged, and $1,000 of it goes into a pot that eventually pays for all the projectors and everything. In about five years you would basically reconvert the entire industry.” TIME‘s Richard Corliss discusses Indy 4, the Star Wars TV show, and the future of cinema with a “retired” George Lucas.
Steven Spielberg announces he’s taking a hiatus in 2006, meaning that both his Lincoln biopic with Liam Neeson and Indy 4 (currently being polished by Spiderman scribe David Koepp) might take longer than expected to hit theaters.