Disney hasn’t yet announced that a fifth Indiana Jones film is in the works, but according to a deal they just struck with Paramount, Disney will gain marketing and distribution rights to future Indiana Jones films. I have to think that means they’ll be making them too. Of course they are. Disney would cut an orphan’s belly open if they thought there was a penny in it.
The Walt Disney Studios and Paramount Pictures have reached a distribution and marketing agreement for the Indiana Jones franchise.
Under the arrangement, Disney gains distribution and marketing rights to future films, in addition to retaining the ownership rights it secured when it acquired Lucasfilm.
Paramount will continue to be responsible for distribution of the first four films in the franchise and will receive a financial participation on any future films that are produced and released.
Disney has not officially announced that a fifth films is in the works.
That said, Disney will likely move quickly to get a film in motion. [emphasis mine] Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger has expressed a lot of interest to monetize the brand ever since Disney bought Lucasfilm last year.
The last installment, “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” grossed $783 million worldwide. [Variety]
Crystal Skull is sort of a double-edged sword in this situation. My first reaction would be to say “isn’t the last Indiana Jones proof that there shouldn’t be anymore Indiana Jones movies?!” While the gullible, glass-half-full simpletons among you will counter with, “What’s wrong with that? There’s no way it could be as bad as the last one!”
Maybe, maybe not. Basically, it’s Star Wars VII all over again. I don’t want to fight with the people who’ve dedicated their lives to trying to recreate the world as it was when they were 10, so I’ll simply point out how weird it is that Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is still 78% recommended on RottenTomatoes (for counterpoint, my original review). First the same guy directs Star Wars and Star Trek, now the same company owns Star Wars and Indiana Jones? Pretty soon Disney is going to own your couch fort, your fears, and everything you ever jacked off to.