We got our first look at the end of an era with the release of the trailer for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. This will be the final crack of the whip for Harrison Ford in the iconic role he has portrayed for over forty years, starting with 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark. It’s bittersweet for Ford to be officially retiring the famous fedora, but we’re psyched to see Indy back at it for one more go round.
He's fought Nazis, the Thuggee, the Nazis again, and most recently, the Soviets in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. While that movie is underappreciated, as it’s a fine Indiana Jones film, it wasn’t the best note for the world’s greatest adventurer to bow out on. Dial of Destiny is Ford’s official Dr. Henry Jones, Jr. swansong, purportedly handing the helm over to Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Helena Williams for future films. The movie features an all-star cast, top-tier director James Mangold, and what looks like some trademark Indy B-movie spectacle.
The official synopsis states:
“In 1969, American archeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones lives against the backdrop of the Space Race. Jones is uneasy over the fact that the U.S. Government recruited former enemies to help beat the Soviet Union in the competition to make it to space. His goddaughter, Helena, accompanies him on his journey. Meanwhile, Voller, a NASA member and ex-Nazi involved with the moon-landing program, wishes to make the world into a better place as he sees fit.”
Here’s a breakdown of the trailer for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
Indiana Jones' Good Ole Days
The trailer starts with a long-time Jones ally Sallah (John Rhys-Davies), longingly recalling adventures in the desert and at sea, the good ole days of the Jones/Sallah tandem that included romps in Raiders and The Last Crusade. This dialogue is the backdrop to a desert village chase and some eerie ocean flashbacks sandwiched around present-day Indy living his regular life in New York City, teaching college kids about archeology. “Those days have come and gone,” says a dismissive Jones to Sallah.
We see Indy shining a light on an ancient statue before squaring off with a Nazi thug on top of a moving train. This is followed by a quick glance at Waller-Bridge as Helena Williams. Snatched up by the Nazis, we then get our first look at the seamlessly de-aged Harrison Ford, the quality of which makes the shot look like cutting-room floor footage from 30 years ago. Big bad Voller (Mads Mikkelsen) opens a wooden box to a torrent of blue light, followed by a shot of Antonio Banderas in his as-of-yet unnamed role.
Enter the Bad Guy
We get Voller back in his full Nazi regalia and a pair of hands reaching for an unknown artifact. A grand ticker tape parade is interrupted by Jones on horseback, then a shot of Boyd Holbrook’s Klabor in hot pursuit as Indy barrels down the crowded NYC street. The mandatory shot of Jones reaching for his fedora comes next, with his bullwhip and bag of tricks nearby. A sidecar motorcycle chase and big explosion follow, along with Jones and Williams dislodging a massive boulder; two possible nods to previous Jones films The Last Crusade and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Jones snaps off his trusty fists two times, once seemingly at a protester, another at a Nazi in his past life, followed quickly by Klabor firing off a luger into the air. The three blows come in a nice and neat succession in tune with the trailer soundtrack. A mysterious glowing void, similar in color to the aforementioned wooden box glow flashes across the screen with a brief look at Toby Jones’ Basil. Back on the roof of the speeding train, Indy disarms a Nazi with a flick of his whip.
The Trailer's Final Shots
As the Indiana Jones theme song rises to its final notes, a quick series of chase scenes rifle across the screen. Jones then continues his horse ride into the tunnels of the NYC subway, narrowly escaping an oncoming train. The film’s title, in the brilliant Indiana Jones font and color scheme, precedes the trailer's final shot, as Jones racks off three sharp swings of his bullwhip at a roomful of shady characters only to be met by a chorus of clicking pistols.
An incredulous Jones ducks behind a table as the guns fire off and the release date flashes. The scene is reminiscent of a Temple of Doom moment where Jones faces down several swordsmen and reaches for his own pistol, only to find an empty holster. A grin and a brawl ensue.
That’s where this trailer nails it; sentiment and nostalgia accompany the action in this well-cut footage for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, hyping us up for Indy’s final trek around the globe in search of fortune and glory.