Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny: Release date, trailer, cast & plot

Here’s everything we know about Harrison Ford’s long-awaited return in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, from its release date and trailer to cast, plot, and other details.

It’s been more than 40 years since Ford’s whip-wielding, Nazi-beating archeologist first became a cinematic icon in Raiders of the Lost Ark. He was last seen in 2008’s Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, widely derided (and basically dismissed) by the fans.

While rumors surrounded whether Lucasfilm and Disney would recast the character, considering Ford is now 80 years old, he’ll return once more in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

The film has endured vast, continual setbacks, whether it’s script rewrites, injuries, or global restrictions over the past two years – but we’re less than a year away now, so here’s everything you should know about Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny release date: When is it coming out?

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is due for release on June 30, 2023. It will be available to watch exclusively in cinemas.

Development on the fifth film began back in 2008, when Ford said he’d be game for another sequel if it didn’t take another 20 years to come out, like Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Lucasfilm

The first look at Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

Back in 2010, Ford told BBC News: “Steven [Spielberg] and George [Lucas] and I are sort of agreed on a germ of an idea and we’re seeing what comes of it.

“The process works like this. We come to some basic agreement and then George goes away for a long time and works on it. Then Steven and I get it in some form, some embryonic form.

“Then if we like it we start working with George on it and at some point down the line it’s ready and we do it.”

In 2015, three years after Disney acquired Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy confirmed there’d be another Indiana Jones movie.

A release date for Indiana Jones 5 was originally set for July 19, 2019, but between script issues, Spielberg directing the likes of Ready Player One and The Post, and global restrictions, it incurred several delays – to the point many thought it’d never happen.

Indiana Jones 5 is now being directed by James Mangold. The movie finally wrapped filming back in February, and the official Indiana Jones Twitter account confirmed the release date back in May.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny trailers

The first trailer for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was released at CCXP 2022 on December 1. You can watch the full trailer below.

The second Dial of Destiny trailer dropped during the 2023 Super Bowl, giving fans a glimpse at some stunning set pieces along with de-aged Harrison Ford and Mads Mikkelsen.

The third trailer was released at Star Wars Celebration on April 7, 2023. It shows more of the dynamic between Indy and his goddaughter Helena, while learning more about the titular dial that “drove her father crazy.”

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny cast: Who’s in it?

Firstly, and most importantly, Harrison Ford has returned as the titular hero for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

Back in 2019, Ford appeared on the Today show, where he was asked about the possibility of another actor taking over as Indy. “Don’t you get it? I’m Indiana Jones. When I’m gone, he’s gone. It’s easy,” he said.

In a recent interview with Empire, Ford spoke about how – despite not thinking a fifth movie was necessary – he is proud of the way the film has turned out.

“I didn’t feel it was necessary to do another one,” he said. “I just thought it would be nice to see one where Indiana Jones was at the end of his journey.,” adding he would take it on “if a script came along that I felt gave me a way to extend the character.”

The rest of the Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny cast includes:

• Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helena
• Mads Mikkelsen
• Thomas Kretschmann
• Boyd Holbrook
• Shaunette Renée Wilson
• Toby Jones
• Antonio Banderas

Waller-Bridge is believed to be playing an “adventurer and femme fatale”, with Mangold saying: “When you add Phoebe, a dazzling actor, brilliant creative voice and the chemistry she will undoubtedly bring to our set, I can’t help but feel as lucky as Indiana Jones himself.”

One actor who will not be back despite having a large role in the previous film is Shia LeBeouf. LeBeouf was first introduced in the 2008 film Kingdom of the Crystal Skull as the illegitimate child of Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenwood.

And while LeBeouf will not be back for the upcoming Indiana Jones film, director James Mangold confirmed in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that we will “find out what happened to him” at some point during the film.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny plot: What is it about?

There are very few official plot details regarding Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny at the time of writing, but there have been certain tidbits and leaks along the way.

First thing first: it definitely isn’t a reboot. “Oh no, Harrison Ford will be involved. It’s not a reboot. It’s a continuation… He can’t wait. He absolutely is [up for it],” Kennedy told BBC News.

Secondly, considering Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was set in the ’50s, it’s likely Indiana Jones will take place in the ’60s. In a tweet about The Velvet Underground, Mangold earlier said he was “mentally living in 60’s NYC… cause that’s where all the movies I’m working on take place.”

Thirdly, it seems the film is going to involve time travel in some way, considering both Nazis and Roman soldiers have been spotted in set photos, suggesting the plot may involve a time machine.

According to Harrison Ford, this fifth film will show why the series didn’t end with the fourth: “I just thought it would be nice to see one where Indiana Jones was at the end of his journey,” he explained to Empire. “If a script came along that I felt gave me a way to extend the character.” This particular script comes from Jez and John-Henry Butterworth, writing alongside Mangold.

Mangold also spoke to Empire, stating, “It became really important to me to figure out how to make this a movie about a hero at sunset.”

“The issues I brought up about Indy’s age were not things I thought were being addressed in the material being developed at the time. There were ‘old’ jokes, but the material itself wasn’t about it. To me, whatever you greatest liability, you should fly straight towards that. If you try to pretend it’s not there, you end up getting slings and arrows the whole way.”

As per A Frame, producer Frank Marshall said: “It’s a great story, it’s a great character, and I think you’re going to be very happy with this movie. It’s everything I think that everybody wants out of an Indiana Jones movie.”

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Mikkelsen also teased: “[Raiders of the Lost Ark] was one of my favorite films, and it just oozed that golden period of serials from the 1940s – and that’s in the fifth film as well.

“They’re going heavily back to the first and second film and getting that original feel, the original Indy, something dense and epic.”

Part of going back means the potential for flashbacks, with Variety reporting that the film will include a de-aged version of Ford.

We’ll update this article upon further announcements.