Movie fans got a nice little surprise when Mads Mikkelsen joined the cast of the upcoming 5th Indiana Jones movie, and now he's got a few things to say about it. Not only did he have some praise to give for the script itself, but he appears to be genuinely excited to take part in the creation of his own currently unrevealed character.
The Casino Royale and Rogue One actor earned a reputation over the years for attaching himself to a number of high-quality productions, and if Mikkelsen's own assessment is on point, it seems as though Indiana Jones 5 is gearing up to follow suit. In a recent interview, he discussed his excitement for the new movie, as well as how honored he is to take part in a series he loves and grew up with. The film, which will also star Phoebe Waller-Bridge alongside Mikkelsen and Harrison Ford, has an imposing legacy to live up to, but he has high hopes.
"I'm in a lucky position where they let me read the script before," Mikkelsen said when speaking with Collider, "and yes, it was everything I wished it to be, so that was just great." With a heavy-hitter like Mikkelsen, it seems almost required that he be allowed to read the script before committing to a project as big as Indiana Jones, so the fact that he apparently deemed it a worthwhile opportunity certainly bodes well for the film's future. Part of that confidence likely also comes from the insinuation that Mikkelsen is actively taking a big part in the shaping of his character, giving him a little more creative control. "I do think I'm invited in to create a character, I think that everybody wants that," he continued. "That's why they pick certain actors that they think can come up with certain things, and it will be a collaboration as it always is."
It's an interesting situation, with the upcoming film set to be the first in the franchise that isn't directed by Steven Spielberg. Logan director James Mangold will take the reins of Indiana Jones 5, with Spielberg stepping down from that lofty perch but still sticking around as a producer. This suggests a tonal shift might be in the cards for the movie when production officially begins, but that doesn't necessarily mean things will change too drastically. Mangold has proven his affinity for dark drama and action with Logan, but he's also got some experience with the slightly less gritty stuff, such as when he served as executive producer for The Greatest Showman.
Many fans are understandably wary after how things turned out with the successful but largely panned Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and it's difficult to blame them. But it can't hurt to be a little optimistic, particularly based on Mikkelsen's own assessment of the script for the currently untitled sequel. It should be safe to say that the Hannibal star knows something good when he sees it.
Still, there's nothing wrong with a little healthy skepticism. It's just a movie after all, sure, but everybody's got different things they enjoy. Perhaps the most accurate statement here would be to say Indiana Jones 5 will receive plenty of fans and plenty of detractors. It's just how the world works, and the universe of nerdy people must maintain balance, apparently.
Indiana Jones 5 (title pending) is set to begin production later in 2021.
Source: Collider