Indiana Jones Journal: Mads About Harrison

Mads Mikkelsen was over the moon about working with Harrison Ford on Indy V

What did his dad say?

“It can wait…”

Of course, Henry Jones Jr. counted to ten in Greek to display patience.

But fans of “Indiana Jones” learned their lesson a long time ago. It’s been years and years since Indy donned the fedora.

Unfortunately, lackluster reaction to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and delay after delay kept Dr. Jones off the animated map since 2008.

However, with “Indiana Jones V” now in post-production and next year’s premiere within sight, it seems reasonable to start getting excited.

Moreover, beyond nostalgia, there’s a real reason to look forward to 2023.

Mikkelsen on Indiana Jones V

Mads Mikkelsen recently spoke to The Hollywood Reporter and waxed poetic (hyperbolic?) on the upcoming feature, especially since it falls squarely into the style of one of his favorite films.

“[Raiders of the Lost Ark] was one of my favorite films, and it just oozed that golden period of serials from the 1940s — and that’s in the fifth film as well,” he told THR. “They’re going heavily back to the first and second film and getting that original feel, the original Indy, something dense and epic.”

Of course, it’s not Steven Spielberg in the director’s chair (he’s an executive producer) – it’s James Mangold with the megaphone.

But to Mikkelsen, it didn’t matter.

“It felt like a Spielberg film, though it’s obviously James making it with the same vision,” he said.

Moreover, perhaps the most critical piece of the puzzle, Harrison Ford, is back in the saddle.

A Monster of a Man

Safe to say, Mads was mad about Harry.

“It was the first time I met him, and he’s an insanely powerful person,” explained Mikkelsen. “Not just as an actor, but physically. I remember the first day we were shooting; it was a night shoot, then we stopped at 5 a.m. — and then he got on his mountain bike and went biking for 50 kilometers [31 miles].

“Harrison is a monster of a man, a very nice monster.”

Mads Mikkelsen on Harrison Ford

Here’s hoping he and Mads make for a monster of a film in Summer 2023.

It’s Like Poetry. It Rhymes

A pretty fun meme stems from George Lucas making a point about his Star Wars movies. However, George was making an important point about his Saga.

And now, it sounds as if a contemporary director looks to make some “rhyming” of his own with another set of George’s films.

Case in point, check out this Twitter exchange:

I love symmetries. There's many in my films. For instance, in LOGAN's 1st scene we find our hero laid out, rising into frame & our last shot features him laid out & under the ground. 310 TO YUMA begins & ends on a CU of Logan Lerman. Some symmetries in my next film too! So.. yes!

— Mangold (@mang0ld) March 27, 2022

“Some symmetries in my next film too!” Now, I wonder if those symmetries lay within the film itself. Or, as in the case of Star Wars, will the balances be within the franchise itself.

Judging by what Mads Mikkelsen says above, maybe the symmetries will be with Raiders of the Lost Ark?

Time will tell. Be patient.

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