Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny has landed in UK cinemas, marking Harrison Ford’s last outing as the titular archaeologist.

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Talking about the outpouring of support from fans since it was announced the movie would be his last outing as the iconic adventurer, who he began playing in 1981, Ford recently explained to RadioTimes.com: "It's been extraordinary.

"It's been 15 years since we made one of these movies. During that period of time, families have passed the four films on to a new generation of filmmakers and it's a different time in life - but Indiana Jones still has some magical appeal."

Talking about why Dial of Destiny is an extraordinary movie, he added: "This is a special kind of film and in this world that we're living in, with all the division into camps, there's a feeling that this is crosscutting all that stuff and this is about something else, something that used to be strong in our cultures, which is a sense of our common humanity, and we're missing that."

Ford is joined by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who plays Indy's goddaughter Helen Shaw, and some familiar faces from the previous four entries to the franchise too.

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While we wait for more news on a sixth film, here is everything you need to know about Indiana Jones 5, including how to watch the film.

Indiana Jones 5 release date

After premiering at the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday 18th May, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was released in cinemas on 30th June 2023.

The release date came three years later than originally hoped, 15 years since the release of the last film in the series (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) and more than four decades since the first entry in the franchise (Raiders of the Lost Ark.)

Production officially started in June 2021, with a leaked on-set photo of Harrison Ford in costume as Indy causing quite a stir on social media.

Who stars alongside Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones 5?

Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. YouTube/Lucasfilm

There is already a strong cast for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

As Harrison Ford approaches his 80th birthday, fans have long speculated whether the actor would choose to retire from the demanding physical stunts of Indiana Jones - but that doesn't seem to be the case.

In February 2020, producer Kathleen Kennedy said that Ford would indeed reprise the iconic role and that he "can't wait" to do so, but Ford has confirmed that this will be his final outing as Indy.

In 2016, Disney boss Bob Iger alluded to the future of Indiana Jones beyond Ford's involvement: "We’ll bring him [Harrison Ford] back, then we have to figure out what comes next."

Plenty of new characters look to be joining the series for this film – with some very exciting names having been confirmed for the cast in as yet unspecified roles.

One of the first to be announced was Fleabag star and creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge, although details about her character were kept under wraps.

The trailer introduces her character Helena as Indy's goddaughter and a figure in the thick of the action.

Just a few days later it was revealed by Deadline that Mads Mikkelsen would also be joining the cast, with the Danish actor once again taking on a villain – a Nazi scientist recruited by the US government.

Mads Mikkelsen as Voller in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Mads Mikkelsen as Voller in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. YouTube/Lucasfilm

Mikkelsen said: "I rewatched Raiders of the Lost Ark the other day, it is so well-done and so charming, and it’s such great storytelling. So yes it’s a great honor to be part of that franchise that I grew up with…

"I’m in a lucky position where they let me read the script before. And yes, it was everything I wished it to be, so that was just great."

Later in April, The Wrap reported that German actor Thomas Kretschmann (Avengers: Age of Ultron) would also be joining the film, while in May, it was revealed that Narcos star Boyd Holbrook and The Resident's Shaunette Renée Wilson had also landed roles.

Antonio Banderas was also confirmed to appear.

Meanwhile, it also emerged that Toby Jones would have a role in the film after the Detectorists star was spotted on the set of the new film, supposedly as a new sidekick for Indy. Jones later appeared in the trailer.

Indiana Jones 5 trailer

The most recent trailer – and the longest to date – was unveiled at the Star Wars Celebration in London on Friday 7th April 2023 – teasing a little more about the story and the relationship between Indy and his goddaughter Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge). You can check it out below:

The first trailer was released at Brazil Comic-Con 2022 and featured Ford being digitally de-aged to appear younger in flashback sequences.

An additional trailer was released in December 2022, giving fans a look at Jones jumping back into action – albeit rather reluctantly – to travel the world and search for lost artefacts one last time.

The footage also features a bunch of other cast members, including Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen and Boyd Holbrook, as well as shots of a young Ford in the opening flashback sequence.

A second trailer was unveiled during the Super Bowl on Sunday 12th February 2023, giving fans a look at a tense encounter between Indy and the movie's villain, Voller (Mikkelsen). Watch below:

Who is returning for Indiana Jones 5?

John Rhys-Davies as Sallah in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
John Rhys-Davies as Sallah in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. YouTube/Lucasfilm

As for returning stars from previous instalments in the franchise, aside from Ford, John Rhys-Davies, who played Sallah in Raiders and The Last Crusade, reprised his role in the franchise - but the Lord of the Rings actor had previously conceded that such a return was "unbelievable".

Speaking to the Daily Express in 2019 he said, "Well I keep sending signals that I’d love to be [involved] but I’m not on the mailing list at the moment," adding that, "Sallah is no longer a believable character given the history of the Arab world and the West since we did the first one."

Karen Allen was also rumoured to reprise the role of Marion Ravenwood, who, of course, married Indiana Jones at the end of the most recent film.

Karen Allen stars in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
Karen Allen as Marion in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Disney

Does Shia LaBeouf return for Indiana Jones 5?

Shia LaBeouf in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Shia LaBeouf in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was notable for introducing Transformers star Shia LaBeouf as Mutt Williams, the son of Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen).

Judging from a number of not-so-subtle hints dropped throughout the movie, it seemed that he was being groomed to take over the franchise, but those plans have since been abandoned.

Back in 2017, screenwriter David Koepp confirmed that LaBeouf's character does not feature in the upcoming fifth entry, and his absence is explained in the film.

What happens in Indiana Jones 5?

Indiana Jones 5 sees Ford’s character take on the franchise’s recurring villains - the Nazis - in 1969 during the height of the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States.

Speaking with Empire magazine, the film's co-screenwriter, Jez Butterworth, previously said: "The simple fact is that the moon-landing program was run by a bunch of ex-Nazis. How ‘ex’ they are is the question. And it gets up Indy’s nose…”

He continued: “It’s not just that the model of what a hero is has completely changed. It’s not just that they’re looking for something where there’s nothing up there – it’s like Reno without the gambling, or whatever his line is. But the people that are behind it are, you know, his sworn enemies.”

Ford has also confirmed this will be the last time he cracks his whip – and the film gives us a fairly definitive ending to the saga.

Did Steven Spielberg direct Indiana Jones 5?

director Steven Spielberg (Indiana Jones)
Director Stephen Spielberg onstage at Dolby Theatre in 2016.

Indiana Jones 5 is the first chapter in the series to be directed by someone other than legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg, who announced he was stepping down from the project in February.

In his place, James Mangold was hired to helm the movie featuring Harrison Ford's charming adventurer.

Mangold won the adoration of fans for his 2017 smash-hit Logan, which depicted the final days of Hugh Jackman's violent Marvel superhero Wolverine.

While there was little chance of Indy 5 being anywhere near as explicit or blood-soaked, it did share a similar narrative theme of an ageing icon going on one last hurrah.

That being said, Spielberg had previously promised fans that Indiana Jones would not be killed off in the fifth film, so going out in a blaze of glory was always off the table.

Franchise co-creator George Lucas, who played a big role in deciding the story for the previous four movies, was involved in the upcoming entry at all, according to screenwriter David Koepp, who wrote an early draft of the film.

But one stalwart of the franchise who will be back is legendary composer John Williams, who is returning to write the score – which is sure to include some callbacks to his classic Indiana Jones theme.

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