Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny star Phoebe Waller-Bridge believes the eponymous action-adventure film series could have explored more aspects ahead of the upcoming franchise closer.
During a sitdown with Vanity Fair, Waller-Bridge spoke about how the idea of the final Indiana Jones film leaning into the eponymous archeologist's age resonated well with her, leading her to get involved. However, Waller-Bridge admitted she wanted to push the acclaimed movie franchise further, given the potential stories that could be told. “People have this idea of when [a franchise] should end,” she said. “And I always think the interesting stuff comes when you push a little bit beyond the end. What happens after the conversation? What happens after someone gets in a cab and goes home?"
Waller-Bridge plays Indy's goddaughter Helena Shaw in Dial of Destiny, a brilliant, witty, and sometimes uncompromising character who accompanies him in his pursuit of the Archimedes Dial, a mysterious device capable of time travel. Waller-Bridge said she didn't hesitate after reading the Dial of Destiny script and getting a better idea of Helena, likening her character to Raiders of the Lost Ark's Marion Ravenwood. The acclaimed actor described Helena as “the coolest motherfucker anyone had ever seen, and also a joyful and surprising match for Indy.”
Despite Waller-Bridge's intrigue in furthering the Indiana Jones franchise, Dial of Destiny officially concludes an Indiana Jones film series that's been around since Raiders of the Lost Ark premiered in 1981. There have been rumored spinoffs based on Indiana Jones characters, including one based on Helena. Dial of Destiny director James Mangold shot down the prospects of working on a Helena spinoff, though Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy believes it's a legitimate possibility. There's also been a speculated spinoff involving Indy's former sidekick Short Round, played by Academy Award-winning actor Ke Huy Quan in Temple of Doom, with Quan expressing interest in the possibility.
What is Dial of Destiny About?
Dial of Destiny is set in the heart of the 1969 space race, with Indy concerned about the U.S. Government hiring ex-Nazis to help their push to reach the galaxy as they battle the Soviet Union for supremacy. Indy's motivation for claiming the Archimedes Dial dates back to World War II when he and long-time colleague Basil Shaw (Toby Jones) prevented Nazi scientist Jurgen Voller (Mads Mikkelsen) from obtaining the prized device. Voller later becomes one of the ex-Nazis the government hires for their Apollo moon landing program. He looks to get his hands on the dial to make the world a better place as he deems fit, setting up another confrontation with Indy.
Waller-Bridge joined the Dial of Destiny cast in 2021, previously appearing in Solo: A Star Wars Story, and best known for her TV series Fleabag. She was also a screenwriter for the most recent James Bond film, No Time to Die. Along with her Indiana Jones commitments, Waller-Bridge serves as a writer and executive producer for an upcoming Tomb Raider series developed by Prime Video.
Dial of Destiny premieres in theaters across North America on Jun. 30.
Source: Vanity Fair