Summary

• Indiana Jones 5 explores themes of time travel, aging, and ing the torch to a new generation, with the de-aging technology used in the opening sequence setting the stage for these themes.
• James Mangold, the director of Indiana Jones 5, used de-aging technology to give viewers a taste of the younger Indiana Jones, allowing for exciting action sequences and a technological feat that is hard to be unimpressed with.
• Harrison Ford ed the use of de-aging in Indiana Jones 5, stating that the technology accurately portrayed his appearance from 35 years ago and that as long as it s the story, de-aging can be an excellent tool for filmmakers.

The first appearance of Harrison Ford in new Indiana Jones character, goddaughter Helena Shaw (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), and her assistant Teddy Kumar (Ethann Isidore) to find the time-traveling device known as the Archimedes' Dial before Nazi scientist Jürgen Voller (Mads Mikkelsen) claims it for himself.

Time travel figures heavily in Indiana Jones 5 as do ideas about aging, legacy, and the new generation taking over. This is the first Indiana Jones film not conceived nor directed by either Spielberg or George Lucas; the director is James Mangold with a story created without significant input from either Spielberg or Lucas. Indy has been through a lot: Marion (Karen Allen) has recently left him, his son Mutt (Shia LaBeouf) ed away in Vietnam off-screen, and Helena represents a new adventuring archaeologist to replace him. Time plays an important role in Indiana Jones 5 and the de-aging in the opening sequence works as an introduction to that theme.

De-Aging Technology Was Used For Indiana Jones 5's Opening Sequence

The start of Indiana Jones 5 is set in 1944, 25 years before the main portion of the film. Indiana Jones and Oxford archaeologist Basil Shaw (Toby Jones) have been captured by Nazis in their attempt to find the Lance of Longinus. During their escape, they find a far more valuable treasure in Archimedes' Dial, which can supposedly allow the to travel through time. Indy and Basil manage to escape Jürgen just before the allies arrive, collecting one-half of the Dial for their trouble. Harrison Ford is de-aged in this Indiana Jones 5 sequence, allowing the younger Anthony Ingruber to perform stunts that the older Ford would be incapable of now.

Mangold has spoken at length about his excitement around using de-aging technology. Via The Independent, Mangold says:

“The goal was to give the audience a full-bodied taste of what they missed so much. Because then when the movie lands in 1969, they’re going to have to make an adjustment to what it is now, which is different from what it was.”

Indy's physicality has always been an exciting aspect of the Indiana Jones films. Stunts like running from a boulder, fighting under an airplane, and riding horses next to a tank have led to some of the most memorable action sequences in movies. Mangold uses de-aging technology to give viewers the chance to experience Indy in his prime. With Ingruber's physicality and Ford's face, Indiana Jones 5 creates a technological feat that is hard to be unimpressed with.

Harrison Ford ed Being De-Aged In Indiana Jones 5

While the idea of being de-aged may be a strange idea for some actors to wrap their heads around, Ford was pleased with the results and glad that the sequence was added to the film. About the de-aging technology and how it appears on film, Ford had this to say, via Entertainment Weekly:

"'I know that that is my face...It's not a kind of Photoshop magic — that's what I looked like 35 years ago. Because Lucasfilm has every frame of film that we've made together over all of these years. And this process, this scientific mining of this library, this was put to good [use]...'"

Ford its that de-aging isn't always appropriate and can stick out without talented people working on the effects. However, he says that as long as the effects are ed by the story, as they are in Indiana Jones 5, then they are excellent tools for any filmmaker.

Where To Watch Indiana Jones 5