Disney has just announced that long-time Indiana supporter Steven Spielberg will also return to direct the fifth, as yet untitled instalment.
The film will be released in July 2019, 11 years after the ill-received fourth movie in the series, Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Crystal Skull.
Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper and Shia LaBeouf were all mooted as replacements for the ageing star, but Harrison, who will be 76 when the movie is released, isn’t ready to relinquish his bullwhip just yet.
Disney chair Alan Horn said: “Indiana Jones is one of the greatest heroes in cinematic history, and we can’t wait to bring him back to the screen in 2019.
It’s rare to have such a perfect combination of director, producers, actor and role, and we couldn’t be more excited to embark on this adventure with Harrison and Steven.”
Also returning are producers Kathleen Kennedy and George Lucas, who developed the character.
To date the Indiana Jones films – 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1984’s Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, 1989’s Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull – have taken nearly US$2 billion worldwide.
The news continues a late career revival for Harrison, who was lucky to walk away from a plane crash in early 2015.
The enormous box office take for the latest Star Wars film returned him to the top of the list of highest-grossing actors in 2015.
In 2017 Harrison will also be seen in a sequel to the 1982 sci-fi classic Blade Runner.
