You won’t see Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge donning the famous fedora any time soon (Picture: Stefania D’Alessandro/WireImage)
No, Phoebe Waller-Bridge won’t be replacing Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones – and that’s according to franchise director James Mangold.
The Fleabag creator and actress, 37, will be joining the Indiana Jones story in the upcoming fifth instalment, which comes out next summer.
Waller-Bridge will play the role of Indy’s goddaughter, Helena, and some reports have suggested she could lead the franchise going forward.
However, director Mangold has stepped in on social media to put an end to the rumours that Ford might be replaced.
‘No one will ever replace Indiana Jones. Not in any script. Not in any cut. Never discussed,’ the filmmaker posted to Twitter.
In addition, a source had apparently informed MailOnline that as many as six different endings for the fifth film in the saga.
James Mangold shut down rumours that multiple endings have been filmed (Picture: Phillip Faraone/FilmMagic)
The source is reported to have said: ‘A handful of different endings have been shot and are being shown to test audiences.’
They continued: ‘In one [of the supposed endings], Indy dies but not before handing over his bullwhip to Phoebe’s character.’
Mangold was quick to dispel those rumours too, however, insisting that any rumours about audience dissatisfaction weren’t based in truth.
Harrison Ford has played Indiana Jones ever since Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981 (Credits: Lucasfilm Ltd/Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock)
Ford and Waller-Bridge will join forces in the next installment (Picture: The Walt Disney Company via Getty)
When a fan asked whether there had been any test screenings, Mangold said: ‘Nope. Haven’t been any screenings at all.’
Ford, 80, has gone on record to praise his co-star, saying that he was proud of the film and that Waller-Bridge was one of the causes for his pride.
‘I’m very proud to say that this film is fantastic and [Waller-Bridge] is one of the reasons,’ he said at a Disney event promoting the movie.
He continued: ‘Indiana Jones movies are about mystery and adventure but they’re also about heart. I’m really happy that we have a really human story to tell.’
Ford promised fans that the next instalment would still ‘kick your ass’, raising fans’ hopes that his age won’t put him off performing in action sequences.
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The most recent Indiana Jones film, The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, was released 14 years ago, when Harrison was 66.
It received positive reviews upon release but many Indy fans were critical of the film and consider it to be the weakest in the franchise.
Indiana Jones 5 is scheduled for release in cinemas June 30, 2023.
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Mangold also shut down rumours about multiple endings.
