George Lucas approves Indiana Jones 4 script!

[The Clown Prince]

A little more than a year ago, things looked very good for Indiana Jones 4 to go forward and start filming which would have had it coming out this summer or Thanksgiving/Christmas time. Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford signed off on the Frank Darabount written script, but when George Lucas read it, he felt it wasn't quite what he wanted to tell, so with suggestions by Lucas, a new script had to be written, but this time by someone else. A guy by the name of Jeff Nathanson.


Just before Revenge of the Sith came out, Lucas had said in interviews that he received a new finished script and that he would read it very soon. Well, now we have this from Variety and comingsoon.net...



Variety reports that screenwriter Jeff Nathanson's scripts for Indiana Jones 4 (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=4665) and Rush Hour 3 are moving in opposite directions.

While the trade previously reported (http://www.comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=9471) that Chris Tucker was expected to sign a $20 million deal which would fast-track New Line's Rush Hour 3, the actor ended up not doing so.

Meanwhile, Nathanson's draft for Indiana Jones 4 (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=4665) has apparently met with the approval of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. But before Paramount can move forward, Harrison Ford still has to sign off on the script, and he hasn't yet read it.

The trade adds that with "Star Wars" off his plate, Lucas recently summoned Nathanson to his Bay Area headquarters, where they went over the draft. The screenwriter also got notes from Spielberg, who brought him into the mix after working with him on Catch Me if You Can and The Terminal.

Scheduling Indiana Jones 4 (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=4665) for a 2006 start will be tricky for Spielberg, who next heads to Europe to shoot his untitled drama about the aftermath of the 1972 Munich Olympics for Universal and DreamWorks, and is expected to follow in January with a DreamWorks film about Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War, to star Liam Neeson.


Very interesting and exciting! God, it's been years since word that Lucas, Spielberg, and Ford wanted to make one last Indiana Jones film, and now it looks like it very well may happen soon.



The Clown Prince

[TimTwoFace]

About time - I just hope that this sequel will live up to all of our lofty expectations. It should be quite the different movie, regardless!

-Tim

[Discloner]

Really...if George wanted this movie made at all...I honestly think he didn't have a choice but to ok this script. In one of his last "comments" on the status to the movie, he said something about after okaying this script, there was a window in which Spielberg could direct, after his next movie (the one after War of the Worlds).

He also commented that, that movie won't be SPFX heavy at all, and won't likely take that long to film. As a result...if all goes well, shooting could begin once that film is done.

Had Lucas not signed off on this script...they'd have to wait for a rewrite and then again for another opportunity for Spielberg to direct. By that time, interest in the movie could have been very dead.

[creeper]

Great news....but does this mean their gonna re-shoot and edit the first 3?

[EinBebop]

I think it was all about Spielberg at this point. Much as I like Ford, at this point in his career he's probably ready to play the villain in the next '3 Ninjas' movie.

[Elf]

Good after all... but what's spielberg gonna do since he's doing Vengeance and then the Abe Lincoln project?

[DisneyBoy]

Last I heard there were plans to have the picture star Harrison and his current love, Calista Flockhart. Think it'll happen?

I'd definately be interested in seeing that movie...but truth be told, the three Indiana films were all made around the same time period and have the same look and spirit to them. Making a fourth, so long afterwards, sounds like an unwise idea. It wouldn't resemble the first three anyways, so why take the risk?

[Michael24]

I think they could still pull it off. It will be different some what, but I think they could still capture the spirit of the other three. I'm looking forward to it for sure, though I do hope the rumor of Calista Flockhart co-starring are proved wrong in the end.

[DisneyBoy]

Why? Calista's great!

*bows down in front of avatar*

[Michael24]

Well, she's alright. It's not that I hate her, I just can't picture her in an Indy movie. That's all. :)

[TimTwoFace]

I'd definately be interested in seeing that movie...but truth be told, the three Indiana films were all made around the same time period and have the same look and spirit to them. Making a fourth, so long afterwards, sounds like an unwise idea. It wouldn't resemble the first three anyways, so why take the risk?
Well, people age - and a new backdrop with similar elements may make for an even better movie. There's been word that this movie will take place about 15 years after the last one - that would set it in the early 1950's - and apparently it will be dealing with the Cold War in some capacity.

The only elements of the old movies that can't be duplicated here are A) Indy's youth, and B) Marcus Brodie, as he has passed on. Any of the other major characters from the previous movies (that didn't die in the movies) could all come back, most notably Sean Connery.

-Tim

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Geez, better get rid of the whip and give Indiana the cane now. Maybe he'll add denture-throwing to his arsenal for good measure. :p

[Elven Moon]

At last, an Indy movie I won't be too small to see in theaters!

[The Landstander]

Jeff Nathanson of "Rush Hour 2", "The Terminal" and "Speed 2" (though to be fair also "Catch Me if You Can") has written a George Lucas approved script to bring back a classic trilogy that ended over 15 years ago?

Maybe I'm cynical but I'm a bit pessimistic.

[Enrique]

Congratulations, George Lucas, you're exactly where you were one year ago ... one person short on approving the script and with Spielberg booking more movies while he waits for Indy 4, thus pushing back any filming date everyone else is available for.

[Chris Wood]

What crackhead was thinking of paying Chris Tucker $20 million???

[bigddan11]

I personally hope that the movie does get approved, but I really hope calista isn't in it. I've never thought she was that great of an actress. In fact, she usually puts me to sleep. She'd ruin the entire Indiana series for me.

[ToOn~g@l]

Oh I hope it happens. It would be nice to see one more Indiana Jones movie before Harrison Ford gets too old for it.

[Jerry Mouse]

Any word on whether or not walkie talkies will be used instead of guns in this one? :p

[Aquadementia]

At this point I think they need to get moving. None of them are getting any younger.

Great news....but does this mean their gonna re-shoot and edit the first 3?Oh, I certainly hope not.

Jeff Nathanson of "Rush Hour 2", "The Terminal" and "Speed 2" (though to be fair also "Catch Me if You Can") has written a George Lucas approved script to bring back a classic trilogy that ended over 15 years ago?

Maybe I'm cynical but I'm a bit pessimistic.
Okay, that doesn't bode well.
But I wonder if what we're talking about is a screen play for a story written by George Lucas?

[Squall]

Why? Calista's great!
As long as George Lucas & Steven Spielberg are directing & producing, and Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones, I'm not worried about who all the co-stars are. (Unless Dr. Jones, Indiana's father, is supposed to show up as well, in which case they must get Sean Connery!)

I have no problems with Calista Flockheart. Cute smile, nice legs! ;) (I couldn't stand Ally McBeal though, but that's because of what kind of TV show it was, not the actors.)

Last I heard about this movie, it was supposed to take place in the 1950's, with the Soviets being the bad guys (since the Nazis were gone by then), and it was supposed to involve the discovery of Atlantis. Also, a young James Bond was supposed to make a brief (and unnamed, since Paramount owns Indiana Jones, but MGM owns James Bond) cameo. :p

[Michael24]

What? Where'd the James Bond thing come from? I've never that before. Is Atlantis still being rumored? I know Lucas said the current script has a bit of a paranormal edge. I guess that could somehow still fit Atlantis in. But it seems like it'd be better to craft an original story for this movie instead of just adapting a video game.

[SSJPabs]

Since when does George Lucas have any conception of a good script? Tell me that...

[TimTwoFace]

Since when does George Lucas have any conception of a good script? Tell me that...
He's always been a great conceptual artist - he's just horrible with the fine tuning. That said, I'm sure he can understand a good script written by someone else.

-Tim