“Indiana Jones 5” will utilize technology to make lead actor Harrison Ford look young again, and even the actor said the result is “a little spooky” because of how realistic it looks.
Movie creators are employing the de-aging technology just for the opening scene, which shows the main character confronting a group of Nazis in 1944.
“Then we fall out, and you find yourself in 1969,” director James Mangold told Empire magazine of the visual effects. “So that the audience doesn’t experience the change between the ‘40s and ‘60s as an intellectual conceit, but literally experiences the buccaneering spirit of those early days… and then the beginning of now.”
“My hope is that, although it will be talked about in terms of technology, you just watch it and go, ‘Oh my God, they just found footage. This was a thing they shot 40 years ago,’” producer Kathleen Kennedy said. “We’re dropping you into an adventure, something Indy is looking for, and instantly you have that feeling, ‘I’m in an Indiana Jones movie.’”
Ford, 80, told the publication, “This is the first time I’ve seen it where I believe it… I don’t think I even want to know how it works, but it works. It doesn’t make me want to be young, though. I’m glad to have earned my age.”
While some fans question if Ford is too old to play Indiana Jones, he’s remained adamant that he can still pull off being an action star and that the franchise should die with him because no one else could fill his shoes.
When the question came up ahead of the 2008 film “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” Ford said, ”That’s one of the things I was most keen about. Just acknowledge the years, without reservation. What’s the big deal? The guy’s 18, 20 years older. So what?”
”Yeah, I’ve heard it,” Ford continued, describing fans criticizing his age. “‘Aaaaw, he’s older.’ Well, sh**, yes. And by the way? So are you. So…are… you! Take a look in the f***ing mirror!”
In 2019, Ford put his foot down on the idea of getting replaced with someone younger. “Don’t you get it? I’m Indiana Jones. When I’m gone, he’s gone. It’s easy,” he said. This was enough to scare Chris Pratt off ever pursuing the role.