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Can Harrison Ford resurrect Indiana Jones? | 19819__indiana_l
HOLY CASH COW A spiritual theme (like that of ''Raiders'') might snag a post-''Matrix'' audience
Raiders of the Lost Ark: Kobal Collection

Girl power So who should get stuck doing Indy's more demanding stunts? A distaff sidekick is not only trendy (''Tomb Raider,'' ''Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'') but would also remain true to the franchise's history of feisty female leads like Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) in ''Raiders'' and Dr. Elsa Schneider (Alison Doody) in ''Crusade.'' ''Carrie Anne Moss or Cameron Diaz would work. Jennifer Lopez would be hot, hot, hot with Ford,'' the development executive suggests. A young actress with marquee value will also appeal to teenage girls, who helped ''Tomb Raider'' rake in $131 million despite miserable reviews. Which means Spielberg might want to rethink his recent revelation: that wife Kate Capshaw (whiny nightclub singer Willie Scott in ''Temple of Doom'') will be making an appearance. ''Let's just say she isn't the favorite heroine,'' admits Farasati. On the other hand, he adds, ''as long as Harrison Ford is there, I don't think her presence will have any impact on the box office.''

Get spirited Potentially Ford's age could be an advantage. ''At 60, you have to assume the character has acquired a certain amount of wisdom, and that could be his strength,'' suggests Brian Fagan, an archaeology professor at the University of California Santa Barbara and the author of ''The Seventy Great Mysteries of the Ancient World.'' Fagan notes that while Indiana Jones films have always focused on the search for religious icons (the Ark of the Covenant, the Holy Grail, a sacred Indian stone), an older and wiser Jones would be well suited to a more ethereal quest. ''On a site you really sense the people who were there before you, and the spiritual dimension could be an interesting idea for a mature Indy to explore,'' he says. Whether that means awakening an ancient spirit (hopefully not a mummy) or facing off against an angry god, an otherworldly theme is not only a safe bet (''The Others,'' ''The Sixth Sense'') but opens the door for great special effects.

Think outside the Ark It's not as easy to wow audiences today as it was 13 years ago. Not only have ''The Mummy'' movies swiped Indy's shtick, ''The Matrix'' has amplified our expectations for action scenes. Instead of trying to top the competition (though George Lucas' ILM effects wizards will undoubtedly find a way), Spielberg and Lucas should put most of their energy into the script. Despite today's monster budgets and eye-popping pyrotechnics, few recent action movies have matched ''Raiders''' snappy dialogue and sly plot twists. ''Movies like 'Jurassic Park 3' and 'Planet of the Apes' had big opening weekends, but never the long-term legs of the Indy movies, and that's telling,'' says Farasati. In other words, wisecracks alone won't be enough to appease Indy fans. The fear, says the development exec, is that a new installment will end up being a mere cliché of itself, and ''today's audiences are too savvy.'' Tell that to the Scorpion King.


Posted Feb 07, 2002 | Order Article Reprints
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