Will Indiana Jones die in 'Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'?

Posted Thursday, February 14, 2008 at 2:36 PM Central

by Tim Briscoe

Harrison Ford commented a year or so ago that he wanted Star Wars writer George Lucas to kill off his Han Solo character in Return of the Jedi.

"I did think the character itself was relatively thin. I would have liked to see some complication for the character; the only complication I didn't get was to die at the end of the third one. I thought that would have given the whole film a bottom, but I couldn't talk George into it," Ford is quoted as saying.

After watching the newly released teaser trailer for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, I have a hunch George will finally honor Harrison's request by killing off the Indy character.

Now this is completely speculative on my part but allow me to spell out my theory.

In January of 2006, Ford reportedly gave director Steven Spielberg and producer Lucas a two year deadline to make the fourth Indy film. No real reason was given for this ultimatum but it can be inferred it was due to Ford's increasing age.

Born on July 13, 1942, Ford is now 65 years old. He's no longer a spring chick. His signing on for Indy 4 could have very well been on the condition that this be the final movie for him in the role.

Enter the introduction of Mutt Williams, the greaser character played by Shia LaBeouf. This guy is rumored to be the love child of Indy and Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen). Regardless, his inclusion in the fourth film may be a way of passing the torch to a new hero for the franchise.

Now witness the trailer. Go ahead and watch. I'll wait here for you.

Its theme seems to be that Indy isn't the same young buck. He's not quite up for the adventures he used to. This could be Spielberg and Lucas's way of explaining the passing of 19 years. The previous Indy film, The Last Crusade, was 1938; Crystal Skull is set in 1957.

Or it could be an introduction of his inevitable decline. Co-producer Frank Marshall talked with USA Today about the age factor.

"Indy's a fallible character. He makes mistakes and gets hurt. He has a few more aches and pains now," Marshall says. "That's the other thing people like: He's a real character, not a character with superpowers."

Could Marshall have been alluding to Indy's demise? The fact that Indy is mortal. I kind of think so. I mean, how more real can a character be than to die?

Am I wrong? Will Indy not die in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull? I sincerely hope so. The character of Indiana Jones is such a strong one that I'd much rather his ending be about him riding off into the sunset, cowboy style. But that was the ending of The Last Crusade. Why would you bring him back now if it were not to kill him off?

We'll all find out on May 22 when Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull hits theaters.

What do you think? Do you disagree that Indy will die? If you agree, how do you think he'll go out? Let us know.