RUMOR: Indiana Jones 5 disastrous test screenings and Disney+ series being developed

Speculations include multiple alternate endings being presented, but all of them end up with Phoebe Waller-Bridge effectively taking the starring role after Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones retires from his adventures. The rumors also mention that this is part of the mandate by current Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy.

Although there is no official word with regard to these test screenings, Indiana Jones 5 director James Mangold (Logan, Ford v Ferrari) has responded to these rumors.

On Twitter, the filmmaker confirmed that the movie had finished filming, but debunked the rumors that there were any test screenings, or that Phoebe Waller-Bridge would replace Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones.

Mangold has certainly big shoes to fill, as this will be the first Indiana Jones film that is not directed by Steven Spielberg nor running with a story by George Lucas. The script for Indiana Jones 5 will instead be by Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterwort. Aside from Ford and Waller-Bridge, the cast of Indiana Jones 5 will include Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Kretschmann, Boyd Holbrook, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Toby Jones, and Antonio Banderas.

While the test screenings and results are, thus far, only rumors and are denied by Mangold, a separate rumor related to the Indiana Jones property has also surfaced. Sources say a spinoff series based on the Indiana Jones stories is in early development.

This would not be the first time that a TV series based on Indiana Jones was attempted. From 1992 to 1993, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles aired. Created by George Lucas, the series starred Sean Patrick Flanery in the role of the teenage to young adult version of Indiana Jones (while George Hall played the elderly version reminiscing on his experiences). The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles series ran for 28 episodes. Prior to the series, River Phoenix played a younger Indy in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989).

According to TheWrap, the rumored series is being developed for Disney+ and will not focus on Indiana Jones himself. Instead, it will be a prequel about the young Abner Ravenwood. Fans of the Indiana Jones series will recognize the name as the father of Marion Ravenwood (played by Karen Allen), who is one of the mentors of Henry Jones, Jr. during his formative years.

No official word has been released to confirm the rumored Disney Plus prequel series.

Indiana Jones 5, which has yet to receive an official title, is currently slated for a June 30, 2023 theatrical release.