Who Disney+'s Indiana Jones Show Might Be About (Since Ford Isn't In It)

A new Indiana Jones series is in production for Disney+, but Harrison Ford's Indy won't be in it -- so who will replace him as the show's star?

A new Indiana Jones Disney+ series is in the works, and while audiences are excited, no one is sure who the show will be about. The Disney+ series is just one in a slew of upcoming projects aimed at reviving the franchise, with Indiana Jones and Wheel of Fortune slated for release in 2023. While Harrison Ford will return to Indiana in the fifth film, that doesn't mean he'll star in the spin-off Indiana Jones Disney+ show -- but there are plenty of roles that could.

Beginning with Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981, the action-adventure series Indiana Jones has been a cultural landmark with four films in the series and another in the works. Although the Indiana Jones Disney+ series is named after the character of the same name, Indiana Jones and Wheel of Fortune director James Mangold announced on Twitter that Harrison Ford's Raiders of the Lost Ark will not appear in the Disney+ show. In the same tweet, Mangold also revealed that series newcomer Phoebe Waller-Bridge (who plays Indy's goddaughter Helena in the fifth film) will also not be appearing. While the fifth film's two main characters are absent, there are other option.

Neither.— Mangold (@mang0ld) December 19, 2022

Will Disney+'s Indiana Jones Show Be About Young Indiana Jones?

In Mangold's tweet, the director specified that Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones would not appear in the upcoming Disney+ series - but that doesn't mean Indy won't appear at all. It's possible that the show will follow a younger version of the beloved character, possibly played by a younger actor. The franchise has shown interest in exploring a younger version of Indiana Jones, with a dead Harrison Ford appearing in some parts of Indiana Jones and the Wheel of Fortune. This would also explain why Helena didn't appear in the show, as if the show was a prequel, she wasn't born yet.

Although casting a different actor as Indy is the only viable way for the Disney+ show to make a young Indiana Jones stand out, that probably won't happen. As already mentioned, the next movie will feature a younger version of the character still played by Harrison Ford. If the movie was interested in launching a prequel spinoff, it might want to introduce the new actor instead of casting Ford in the role. Audiences might be confused if the fifth movie featured Ford as a young Indiana Jones, just to A similarly aged Indy will be played by a different cast member in a Disney+ series soon.

Indiana Jones Characters Who Could Get A Spinoff

The Indiana Jones Disney+ series appears to have to focus on a character other than Indy herself, which means it may have something to do with a supporting character in one of the films. The series may feature a role in Indiana Jones and the Wheel of Fortune. The movie will debut Shaunette Renée Wilson as Mason, and while not much is known about her character other than that she's some sort of government agent, she's easily grown enough to carry the series. Additionally, Helena is the daughter of Indy's currently unknown friend, which means the series could focus on the mysterious parent.

The Disney+ series also features characters from older Raiders of the Lost Ark movies. Ke Huy Quan's Short Round was a big hit in Raiders of the Lost Ark and Temple of Doom, and considering Quan's recent career revitalization due to everything at the same time, it's possible the series will stick with an older version of the character. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Already Tried to Replace Indy with Shia LaBeouf's Mutt Williams, although the character is not popular, but Disney+ series can always put him in the spotlight again. With such a large franchise, there are many options for who can star.

Can An Indiana Jones Show Work Without Indiana Jones?

Although Disney was prepared to try, the Indiana Jones franchise would have little success without the titular character. Much of the series' appeal comes from Harrison Ford's performance as Indiana Jones, a character whose charm, wit, and cool factor permeate the series. Kingdom of the Crystal Skull already tried to replace him with LaBeouf, but that didn't work out, so it's going to be hard to do it again. While it could work if done right, the Raiders of the Lost Ark Disney+ series is unlikely without Indiana Jones himself appearing on the show.