This article contains spoilers for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.When time travel appears in a movie, it is almost always served in one particular way, however, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny offers a new version of that old trope, putting some much-needed life into it. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is the fifth installment in the Indiana Jones franchise, starring Harrison Ford as the highly intelligent and adventurous main character. The film follows Indy and his estranged goddaughter Helena Shaw as they race to find the other half of a dial that can alter the course of time.
It is far too common that movies and television series having to do with time travel bring in a now highly familiar trope: going back in time and killing Hitler. A perfect example of this is an episode of The Twilight Zone entitled "Cradle of Darkness," wherein a woman attempts to go back in time and kill baby Hitler to prevent World War II. Even if a film doesn't necessarily include this trope, it has become something of a joke surrounding time travel, and many have researched why this couldn't or shouldn't happen. Surprisingly though, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny uses this well-known trope in an unexpected way.
Indiana Jones 5's Time Travel Plan Subverts Going Back To Kill Hitler
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny includes the trope of using time travel to kill Hitler, however, it is a Nazi character that desires this, rather than someone with good intentions. The film's antagonist, Voller, wants to use Archimedes' Dial to go back in time and murder Hitler because he blames the German oppressor for the Third Reich failing and losing the Second World War. He intends to not only kill Hitler, but take his place as 's leader and bring them to victory.
In this way, the killing Hitler with time travel trope is flipped on its head because of the intentions and the character behind it. Rather than having Indy or Helena come in with an ambitious yet foolish plan to go back in time to change history, the film subverts expectations by giving the movie's villain such an idea. It is particularly interesting because of Indy's characteristic interest in ancient objects and adventure, almost making him the perfect candidate for the trope. However, Dial of Destiny's mythology and history doesn't seem to faze him.
What Would've Happened If Mads Mikkelsen's Voller Had Killed Hitler In The Dial Of Destiny?
If Mads Mikkelsen's Indiana Jones villain, Voller, had succeeded in using Archimedes dial to kill Hitler in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, it would have changed the course of history either dramatically or fragmentally. To make a significant change in history, Voller would have had to succeed both in killing Hitler and leading to victory in World War II. However, if Voller only managed to kill Hitler but not make win, then it's possible that the timeline consequences would be lessened. Either way, it's inevitable that Voller messing with time would have led to at least some changes in the preexisting timeline.
All in all, it's interesting to see how Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny reworks a classic time travel trope. With so many films coming out now centering on time and the multiverse, it's easy for certain tropes to become repetitive and boring. However, the fifth and final Indiana Jones film brings a mix of familiar and fresh with its subverted Hitler time travel plot.
