INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL - PREVIEW 

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

Starring: Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf, Cate Blanchett, Ray Winstone, Karen Allen, John Hurt, Jim Broadbent
Director: Steven Spielberg

U.S. Opening Date: May 22nd, 2008

THEY SAY

Producer Frank Marshall has confirmed that the film is set in 1957, making it nineteen years since Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, thus acknowledging the real-life passing of years between films. Indiana Jones is having a quiet life teaching before being thrust back into his old adventuring. He battles agents of the Soviet Union for the crystal skull.

"The theory is they are shaped by higher powers or alien powers or came from another world, or an ancient Mayan civilization had the powers," Marshall explained. Indy's journey takes him across New Mexico, Connecticut, Mexico City, and the jungles of Peru, as well as the warehouse from the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Cate Blanchett also stars as Irena Spalko, a villainous Russian agent. "Indy always has a love-hate relationship with every woman he ever comes in contact with," Frank Marshall explained. Blanchett had wanted to play a villain for a "couple of years". She enjoyed being a part of the Indiana Jones legacy as she loved the previous films.

WE SAY

Considering that its star Harrison Ford is 64 years old a better title might be Indiana Jones and the Pensioner’s Discount.

Still, 1980s “nostalgia” flicks such as Transformers means huge box office and Indiana Jones is probably the most anticipated movie of 2008.
 

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Trivia

• By 3 June 2003, Shawshank Redemption director Frank Darabont's script was being reported as being complete. The production crew stated that the film would be shot the same way as the previous three - with stunt men, rather than computer generated effects.
• M. Night Shyamalan and Tom Stoppard were each asked to pen a draft of the screenplay.
• In April 2004, the project was supposedly shelved once more after George Lucas rejected the script by Frank Darabont earlier. Reportedly, Lucas did not like Darabont's handling of the storyline between Indy and his brother (both Indy's father played by Sean Connery and brother, a role for which Kevin Costner was rumored to be considered, were to have roles in the new movie). In media reports Darabont indicated he was "disappointed" with the decision.
• At one point, Calista Flockhart was attached to the project.
• This is the first Indiana Jones film without Pat Roach, who had a role in the first three films. Roach died in 2004.
• The first Indiana Jones film not photographed by Douglas Slocombe.
•  Sean Connery was asked to reprise his role as Henry Jones, Sr. from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. But Connery turned it down because he did not want to come out of retirement.
• Before The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was chosen as the title, several other titles were considered and even registered with the MPAA in August 2007, including ‘The City of Gods’, ‘The Destroyer of Worlds’, ‘The Fourth Corner of the Earth’, ‘The Lost City of Gold’, and finally, ‘The Quest for the Covenant’.
• Shia LaBeouf revealed the movie's official title during his appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards 2007.