The Indiana Jones franchise may have been the biggest name in adventure films in the 1980s, but the same cannot be said nowadays. The series has struggled to reinvent itself in the 2000s, and the early reviews of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny have further shown that this series is well past its prime. The glory days of Indiana Jones seem to be over, but MachineGames' upcoming Indiana Jones project may be able to right the ship.
Since Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the franchise has begun showing its age, and Harrison Ford has become less believable as the titular character. The studio just does not know what to do with the archeologist, but MachineGames' fresh perspective could help breathe new life into the aging series. While the studio has not revealed much about the project, it could be exactly what Lucasfilm and Indiana Jones needs right now.
Indiana Jones Desperately Needs Something Fresh
The first three Indiana Jones movies are iconic and are considered some of the best adventure movies around. Viewers were enthralled by Harrison Ford's performance as the wisecracking archeologist, and each adventure felt better than the last. Raiders of the Lost Ark was a great start to this franchise, The Temple of Doom expanded upon it in exciting ways, and The Last Crusade brought it to a riveting conclusion. It was a great thrill ride from beginning to end, but then it lingered on a bit too long.
Fans got to enjoy more Indy hijinks through The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, but it would take 19 years for the series to return to the big screen. Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was supposed to be this bombastic new adventure, but it was ultimately disappointing. While it was financially successful, the actual story left much to be desired. Harrison Ford was as good as ever in the role, albeit a bit less believable, and it served as a fine second conclusion to the series. Many viewers thought this would be the end of Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones career, but The Dial of Destiny is on the horizon, and the early reviews seem to indicate that it is worse than its predecessor.
These last two Indiana Jones films are a pretty clear example that this series' glory days are over. The stories are not as exciting, the concept is becoming even more outlandish, and Harrison Ford is 80 years old. It feels like this series either needs to recast and reinvent itself, or it needs to finally end. New Indiana Jones adventures sound fun, but they may not be the most plausible nowadays, at least on the big screen. The series is in desperate need of a change, and that is where MachineGames comes into play.
In 2021, MachineGames announced that it was developing a brand-new Indiana Jones video game. The studio is best known for the modern Wolfenstein games, and fans cannot wait to see what it has planned for the archeologist. While it has yet to share any specifics about the project, there is a chance that it gives Indiana Jones some much-needed life. The studio will offer a fresh new perspective on the iconic franchise, and a new actor will likely take the reins. A brand-new adventure with a new take on the lead character sounds like the exact thing this series needs right now, and hopefully it is worth the wait.
It may be too early to call it a hit, but there is a strong chance it will be the most unique Indiana Jones in a while. If MachineGames is allowed to run wild within the franchise, then it could create an experience unlike any other. If games like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order can reinvigorate interest in Star Wars games, then nothing is stopping Indiana Jones from doing the same for its franchise.
MachineGames’ Indiana Jones game is in development.