Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is set to hit theaters on June 30, 2023, and it is being marketed as the final adventure for Indiana Jones. It will be Harrison Ford’s last time playing the whip-wielding archeologist and will serve as the conclusion to the five films George Lucas originally wanted to make for the character (even though nothing was ever really planned). Being released 42 years after Raiders of the Lost Ark first hit screens, it will truly be the end of an era.

While Lucasfilm has emphasized there will be no more Indiana Jones movies and only Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones, it is hard to imagine a studio like Disney will let a franchise as well-known and recognizable as Indiana Jones just retire. In an age of endless reboots and franchise continuations, it feels like nothing is ever truly gone.

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While one could make the argument that the franchise could and should end, the idea of more films should not be ruled out entirely. Indiana Jones was partially inspired by James Bond, and that role has been recast multiple times, so why should Indiana Jones be out of the question? The franchise could keep a sense of continuity by passing the title on to a new character. There are plenty of possible new Indiana Jones actors, so take a look and see who could wield the hat and fedora.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge

     Walt Disney Studios

The most obvious pick is Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who will star in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. All that is currently known about her character is she is Indiana Jones’ goddaughter and her name is Helena. She could possibly be Helena Brody, the daughter of Indy’s friend Marcus Brody who was played by Denholm Elliot in Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

If Helena is the daughter of Marcus Brody, or really any character who was a friend of Indiana Jones, her taking over the franchise would be very similar to how the Rocky series transitioned into the Creed franchise. Creed followed the child of a friend of the franchise protagonist, and it has worked out very well for that series. It worked for Rocky, and it could work for Indiana Jones.

Mike Faist

If the approach is taken to reboot the series entirely, that opens the door for a variety of actors, and one in particular is Mike Faist. A successful star on Broadway, Faist broke out with his performance in Indiana Jones director Steven Spielberg’s 2021 remake of West Side Story. Faist plays Riff, the hot-headed leader of the Jets, and within his first few minutes showed movie star potential. Faist’s snub for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards is one of the biggest blindsided in recent memory, but the actor will no doubt go on to have a successful career.

While Faist might not fit the conventional build of what somebody expects from Indiana Jones, the same was said when Robert Pattinson and Christian Bale were cast as Batman. That can always be worked on. Yet it is because he is so different from Ford that he should be considered. If they were to reboot the franchise, shouldn’t the goal be to try something new with the character? Harrison Ford has set the template for the character, but it would be exciting to see someone bring a new take to Indiana Jones. Daniel Craig was unlike any of the previous James Bond actors that preceded, him but was able to reinvent the character in exciting new ways. The franchise should not be afraid of change.

Winston Duke

     Marvel StudiosDisney

The benefit of a reboot means the filmmakers are not bound by any previous form of continuity or previous franchise established rules, and in rebooting Indiana Jones, they could cast a wider net of actors to play the role. Winston Duke has broken out as fan favorite in the MCU playing the character M’Baku, and while he certainly has the action bona fides, it is his role in Us as just a normal suburban dad that showcased just how talented the actor’s range can be.

Just because Harrison Ford is white does not mean the character is inherently white; the character is a concept, so why cut off so many talented actors from potentially putting their own spin on a beloved character? Changing the race of Indiana Jones also puts a new spin on the franchise, one that can acknowledge the struggles of being a Black man in the 1930s while also the colonialist idea of taking artifacts from the country of their origin. A new twist on the Indiana Jones set up might be required, where Indiana Jones returns artifacts to their rightful homelands.

Ke Huy Quan

     A24

Ke Huy Quan is having one hell of a comeback, with his amazing performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once launching him to the Best Supporting Actor front-runner. Yet most fans will remember Quan as playing Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. The kid sidekick to the archeologist and the heart of that darker sequel in the franchise, Quan’s return to acting might signify it is the perfect time for him to return to the franchise and lead the series. Plus, he’s spent years being a stunt coordinator, so he has the action chops.

Quan could return as Short Round and the character become the new lead of the franchise. It helps connect the past films with future plans, taps into fans nostalgia for the previous films, and taps into Quan’s recent career Renaissance. Yet it would also be emotionally rewarding to see Short Round trade his New York Yankees baseball cap for Indiana Jones Fedora, and reflect a new type of adventurer. One who learned from Indiana Jones but one with his own personality and desires.

Ryan Gosling

     FilmDistrict

Ryan Gosling is the perfect pick to take over the mantle of Indiana Jones from Harrison Ford. When it comes to actors who capture the same movie star presence that Harrison Ford had of effortlessly cool and handsome, Gosling is his 21st century equivalent. Need proof he can do action? Watch Drive or The Gray Man. Gosling has proven himself he has the charm and charisma needed for the role in films like Crazy Stupid Love and La La Land, or a film that combines action and sarcastic comedy in an Indiana Jones style, The Nice Guys. Stoic men of another era? First Man and Gangster Squad have you covered. Gosling fits every criterion that made Ford so perfect for the role, and the two even worked alongside each other in Blade Runner 2049.

Yet Gosling could also bring something new to the role. Gosling is known for his intense stare which contrast nicely with some of his softer features. It makes him more vulnerable but still an intense action hero. He would very much be an Indiana Jones for a new era, one that honors what came before but also is unique to the time in which the film is created.