The Indiana Jones franchise has existed for decades, though it may finally be put to bed with the latest entry. It's obvious that Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is being prepped to give the archeologist a swan song, though it's also pretty clear Lucasfilm doesn't want the ride to end. This could easily lead to disaster, though there's one way in which it could work.
Kathleen Kennedy has put forward the idea of an Indiana Jones TV series, namely one that doesn't involve actor Harrison Ford in the role. It sounds almost sacrilegious, and given the track record of recent Lucasfilm shows, there's more than enough reason to be skeptical. Perhaps the only way for the plan to work is to take things back in time in a way different from the Dial of Destiny, showcasing adventures set before Indy's first movie.
An Indiana Jones TV Show Could Destroy the Golden Fridge
Given the somewhat muted reception toward Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny so far, a TV show spinoff might not be what the franchise needs. After all, given the seeming finality of the movie, a TV series would come off as too much of a cash grab trying to inorganically extend the franchise's life. Some fans already felt that the conclusion of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was more than satisfactory, as it literally involved the character heroically riding off into the sunset. Coupled with Kathleen Kennedy's comments about replacing Ford in the role, said a TV show could definitely be doomed right out of the gate. Moviegoers love Indiana Jones, namely Harrison Ford playing the character. While he's been portrayed by other, younger actors in previous TV spinoffs and prequels (none of which made a memorable splash), he's inarguably and inextricably associated with Ford.
A potentially controversial spinoff or one that bogs down the franchise in some way is already something that's affected other Lucasfilm properties. The Star Wars TV shows were initially huge hits, namely The Mandalorian. They've become increasingly less popular, however, and Star Wars as a whole can't seem to get a new movie off the ground. Many likewise considered the recent Willow TV series to be something of a failure, with the show actually dumped from Disney+. A major issue with some of these shows was the main character being sidelined down the road by other characters. Recasting Indiana Jones wouldn't be the exact same situation, but it would fall into the trap of not giving viewers the hero they want to see. Plus, even with his age, not having Harrison Ford around is definitely something that would upset many. Thus, a logical way to explain his not returning to the role is the only way to "save" an Indiana Jones series.
A Raiders of the Last Ark Prequel Might Work for the Indiana Jones TV Show
Audiences first met Indiana Jones in the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark, with the movie quickly making the hero just as iconic as Harrison Ford's other major Lucasfilm role - Han Solo. As mentioned, there were various spinoff specials that showcased some of his earlier adventures, with a flashback in The Last Crusade also doing just that. There were likely countless such events in Jones' life, particularly before Raiders of the Lost Ark took place. With Indy being younger in these stories, it would make sense that someone besides Harrison Ford would play him. This justification would be perhaps the only way for audiences to accept such a recast, especially given what happened to Han Solo.
The movie Solo portrayed the smuggler in his younger days, namely his first meeting with Chewbacca and Lando. Unfortunately, it wasn't a major hit critically or financially, and many found actor Alden Ehrenreich ill-suited for the title role. Of course, stepping into Harrison Ford's shoes would have been hard for anyone, and the failure of the film had cast a long shadow on Ford's other roles. By making the setting of the TV show so far removed from what's already been seen on the big screen and avoiding the rather lazy world-building of Solo, Lucasfilm can ensure that a tentative Indiana Jones prequel has a much better chance of being accepted. It still might not work, but it'd release in a far more fertile and receptive environment than what the Star Wars prequel came out to.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny releases in theaters on June 30, 2023.