If you haven’t heard, the big movie news of the day is that Steven Spielberg has opted to exit the director’s chair on the long-awaited Indiana Jones 5. Instead, Spielberg will lend his blessing and hand the directorial reins over to a new filmmaker. Off the top of your head, who would you like to see helm the fifth franchise entry?
Early reporting suggests that James Mangold may direct Indiana Jones 5. The skilled filmmaker has shown his ability to work in any genre and to step in midway through a franchise (Logan) and deliver the goods. But until it becomes official, here are 10 directors who should be in the running to replace Spielberg on the fifth Indy flick!
Leigh Whannell
Fresh of his rave reviews for revivifying The Invisible Man, Leigh Whannell deserves legit consideration for helming a mega (non-horror) franchise tentpole. Indy just might be the one!
Whannell got his start by co-writing and acting in the first Saw film along with Aussie bestie James Wan. Since then, Whannell’s become an adept filmmaker in his own right. He directed Insidious: Chapter 3 before leveling up with Upgrade. Now in preproduction on the Escape From New York remake, Indy 5 seems like the logical next step!
Danny Boyle
Whether it’s sprawling moviemaking of The Beach or the harrowing adventures of 127 Hours and Sunshine, Danny Boyle seems to have a handle on the size, scale, and scope Indiana Jones 5 would demand. Do you agree?
Of course, if the Indy 5 script explores the kind of dark material as Indy 4, Boyle is equipped for that as well. Remember, Boyle can direct visceral horror (28 Days Later) just as well as he directs heartfelt emotion (Slumdog Millionaire). Most Indy films necessitate a balance between both, and Boyle seems like just the man to do it!
Darren Aronofsky
It would be pretty great to see the indie-art sensibility of Darren Aronofsky come to fruition in Indiana Jones 5. After all, he did a pretty bang-up job on Noah, one of the biggest and most sprawling adventure films of the year it was released. Indy? Snakes? A perfect match!
Also, it might make sense for Aronofsky to helm a big-budget tentpole after the middling success of his previous feature, the small-scale auteur effort Mother! Let’s throw the man’s hat in the ring already!
Jordan Peele
The hottest genre director in all the land would seem a prudent choice to helm Indiana Jones 5. The real question is, would Jordan Peele be allowed to make the movie as scary as he’d want it to be?
If the producers and studio execs were wise, the answer would be a resounding yes! Peele blew audiences away with his record-shattering feature debut, Get Out, and scared them to near equal proportions with Us two years later. With nothing but a bunch of acting and productorial credits coming up, his schedule just might be open!
James Wan
Just like his pal Leigh Whannell, James Wan worked his way up from indie horror flicks to major studio tentpoles. Following the success of Aquaman and Furious 7, Wan seems poised to take the next step up.
While currently in preproduction on his new horror film Malignant, Wan may not have the time for Indy 5. However, his horror movies are made fast and cheap under the Blumhouse formula, so he could be freed up sooner than later. If the announced Aquaman 2 doesn’t impede, Wan should definitely be in the running.
Kathryn Bigelow
It’s a high time a woman helm an Indiana Jones flick. Of all the qualified candidates, none is more poised to step in immediately and direct a thrilling big-scale action-adventure than Katheryn Bigelow!
The Oscar-winning director of The Hurt Locker followed up that film with two searing real-life tales. Zero Dark Thirty was the first, and Detroit was the second. Both films prove Bigelow has more than what it takes to oversee a major endeavor like Indy 5. As far as we know, Kat’s schedule is currently wide open!
James Mangold
Hot on the heels and wheels of Ford v. Ferrari, director James Mangold is the current frontrunner to land the directing gig on Indy 5. Anyone doubt he’d do a masterful job?
Us neither. Mangold has essayed every genre under the sun, from mystery whodunits and westerns to musical biopics and superhero franchise finales. Mangold has simply risen to become one of the finest, most diverse filmmakers in Hollywood, which is why he’s in the lead to land Indy 5.
Peter Jackson
If anyone has a handle on sweeping visual epics, Peter Jackson is that dude. His Oscar-winning work on the Lord of the Rings franchise speaks for itself, as does the sprawling awe of The Hobbit and King Kong.
Of course, Jackson is currently working on the second and third Tin-Tin films. But remember, Spielberg directed the first such flick, so there’s already a connective tissue between the two filmmaking titans. Could Jackson be the wisest replacement for Spielberg on Indy 5?
Christopher Nolan
Nobody in Hollywood fuses high-concept blockbusters with original artistic flourishes in the way Chris Nolan currently does. He’s obviously qualified for an Indy flick, but would he be interested in another franchise after the Dark Knight?
Who knows. All we can tell at this point is Nolan has a new film, Tenet, due later this year. We also know he takes at least two years in between projects. Could the stars properly align to allow Nolan to substitute for Spielberg?
Ridley Scott
Who is a more qualified director, in any regard, than Sir Ridley Scott to deliver a top-tier piece of pop entertainment? Only his late great little brother, Tony, unfortunately. RIP!
Put it this way. Every other director on this list likely looks up to Scott and his fecund four-decade career in Hollywood. Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, The Martian, they all speak for themselves. Scott has the experience, wisdom, and the wherewithal to step right in and ensure Indy 5 never misses a beat.
