Producer Frank Marshall Sees 'Indy 4' As The Character's "Last Hurrah"

Based on reactions to the topic every time it comes up, I think a great many Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford fans would like to pretend that Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull didn't exist. And yet there is still the occasional expression of hope when the mooted fifth Indy film is discussed. Somehow there is optimism that a fifth film would be better than the fourth. And, sure, there's a chance, but when the core story is in the hands of George Lucas, whose latter output has been... well, let's generously say "spotty," I'd say any optimism in this case is extreme.

We might finally be able to put talk of a fifth movie to bed, however, as producer Frank Marshall says that, for him at least, Crystal Skull was the end.

Speaking to Collider, Marshall said,

I say, for me, [Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is] the last hurrah.  I know that yes, we talk about it, but there's no idea, there's no MacGuffin.

Now, this doesn't mean the movie is dead. (Please let it mean the movie is dead.) But it isn't a good sign for the film. And while there has been talk of a fifth movie slowly coming together, with Lucas talking about having a story idea, but no MacGuffin, this also doesn't come as much of a surprise.

It also comes in the wake of Lucas saying that he's effectively leaving LucasFilm to make "experimental movies," which wouldn't seem to be a category that includes Indiana Jones. The new head of Lucasfilm is Marshall's wife, Kathleen Kennedy, and he fielded a follow-up question about the interest of Lucas with,

 Yeah, no he isn't [hungry to do another Indiana Jones]. And he's obviously passing the baton to my wife, so...

"So..." indeed. Looks like this one may really be laid to rest. (For now.)