Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has assured Indiana Jones fans that they will never make an Indiana Jones movie without Harrison Ford. Speaking to Vanity Fair, Kennedy revealed that the studio learned a valuable lesson following the release of the Star Wars prequel, Solo, and will never again attempt to recast iconic characters.

"There should be moments along the way when you learn things. [Solo] may have certainly been a learning moment. Some people have talked about how, well, maybe Solo should have been a TV show. But even doing Solo as a TV show without Harrison Ford as Han Solo ... It's the same thinking. Maybe I should have recognized this before. We would never make Indiana Jones without Harrison Ford. Having just finished the fifth movie, I can tell you, there wasn't a day I wasn't on set where I wasn't like, 'Yes -- this is Indiana Jones.'"

Watching Harrison Ford don the hat and whip once again for the upcoming Indiana Jones 5 reminded Kennedy why no other actor can play the role. Combined with the response to the recasting of another beloved Harrison Ford character in Solo, Kennedy and the studio concluded that this was not the way to go. Indiana Jones fans can now rejoice then, as it sounds like we will never see Indiana Jones played by another actor.

We will, of course, see Indiana Jones played by Harrison Ford again in Indiana Jones 5. Directed by Logan’s James Mangold, with a script co-written by Mangold, Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth, the plot of the fifth Indiana Jones outing remains a secret at present, but it is hotly rumored that the story will reunite the adventurer with his old enemies the Nazis through their involvement in the 60s Space Race.

Will Another Actor Take Over the Franchise as a Different Character?

While Kathleen Kennedy has now ruled out recasting the role of Indiana Jones, this does not mean we won’t perhaps see another character take over the franchise someday. With Harrison Ford now approaching 80 years old, the actor can’t be expected to punch bad guys and leap around underground tombs forever, and no doubt the studio will want to continue the popular franchise without him somehow.

If recasting is no longer an option, then changing the focus to a different character certainly seems the most likely outcome. Recent rumors have claimed that Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who will star alongside Ford in the fifth installment, is being tapped to take over. "Insiders claim Kathleen Kennedy, the Hollywood producer behind the franchise, is keen to make 'big, bold' changes - with few bigger than switching the lead character to a woman." Another source added that, "It would be a huge statement, and a great role for Phoebe."

Should this turn out to be false, the franchise could bring back Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom star Ke Huy Quan, who recently made a triumphant return to the big screen with Everything Everywhere All at Once. Asked recently whether he would like to return, the actor excitedly responded, "YES! Absolutely to more Indiana Jones movies."

Indiana Jones 5 is scheduled for release on June 30, 2023, following several delays caused by production setbacks and the pandemic.