Less than a month ago, Shia LaBeouf was denying, to PopWatch and anyone else who would listen, that the reports of him being cast in Indiana Jones IV were anything more than rumors. Now, however, the Disturbia star’s casting is a done deal, and as much as I think LaBeouf is a funny and inventive young performer, I’m on the fence as to whether his casting is a good idea.
On the minus side: Do we really need to see Indy distracted from his adventures by some midlife father-son drama, the playing out of some abandonment issues that will read like an allegory of the midlife crisis of a busy Hollywood power player? Been there, done that, in both Last Crusade and Temple of Doom (pictured). Or, if LaBeouf isn’t playing Indy’s son, but perhaps some impostor who claims to be the whipcracker’s offspring in order to scam him into an adventure, would that really be any better? Either way, there’s something artificial about using these old warhorse/young hipster-geek pairings to prop up long-dormant action franchises, which is why I have similar apprehensions about Bruce Willis and Justin Long in Live Free or Die Hard. If Adam Brody pops up as a junior freedom fighter in Stallone’s fourth Rambo, run for the hills.
On the plus side: Kid’s got talent, Cate Blanchett and Ray Winstone are also going to be on hand to step up everyone’s game, the franchise could certainly use some youthful energy, and Spielberg can usually be trusted to know what he’s doing. And if Shia gets out of line, Ford’ll make him feel the sting of the lash.
What do you think, PopWatchers? Does LaBeouf’s casting make you more or less eager to see Indy don his fedora one more time?
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I’m pretty much gonna go ahead and close my eyes and hope that the scenario turns out to be the one described in the second to last paragraph of the post.
Shia brings nothing to the plate, so hopefully he won’t get in the way of the final chapter.
Ew, NOOOOO. Not only do we not need an Indy Jr, but I don’t approve of Shia if he is indeed playing that part. What about Ryan Gosling?
I was really, really, really excited for this film. That was until I heard about this bit of casting news. Either Shia’s going to wow us with a performance that he hasn’t shown to be capable of delivering, or he’s just going to come across as a wannabe former child actor. I think the odds are stacked against him and us as well.
Wow, i have never lost interest on a movie faster. not even renting it on dvd, i’ll catch it fifteen years from now, on a channel #9420. the Good ideas gone bad channel.
Shia’s HOTT! I CAN’T WAIT!
I’m still hoping that Indy had a girl and maybe Shia is her love interest? That wouldn’t be too bad. He’s a cutie, but not my very most favorite…
I’m definitely excited about Shia! Did any of you people ever watch Even Stevens?! He was pretty darn brilliant, and hilarious. He completely carried that show. Dramatic, funny and cute!
Shia LeBoeuf is what, 20? And Harrison Ford is in his mid to late 60s, right? So shouldn’t Shia be Harrison’s grandson?
I don’t think I’ve seen anything he has been in. He’s the host of SNL so I will know more after tomorrow night.
Shia rocked Disturbia. Can’t wait to see what he does with the Indy franchise.
He will help. I love Shia LaBeouf very much and have liked the movies he has been in. I would really like to see what else he can pull off and I want to see him a lot more in future movies. Go Shia LaBeouf
Shia’s fine casting, but I’m more excited about Cate Blanchett. She’s the best!
I’m with the person that suggested Ryan Gosling, I think that would be better casting. Damn shame River Phoneix passed he could have stepped in * He rocked it as young Indy* . I dont think Shia is quite right for Indy, but I trust Speilberg to not screw up Indy. He’s not a newcomer, he’s been around. He’s not going ruin such a beloved franchise.
Hmmm, I’m not sure. I think he’s not a bad actor. although Even Stevens cannot be used to measure quality acting, cause well it wasn’t all that good. But more to the point, why do we need another Indiana Jones film? I guess i’m just not all that excited by the entire endeavour. It feels like it’s coming ten years too late.
i was happy with the indy’s of my childhood and after seeing the horror of the new wordy and boring star wars movies i was not going to see indy 4. however, now that shia and cate blanchett have been added i may give it a shot.
I think Shia is a star in the making. He is extremely talented, and he will be a fine addition. If anyone could do as well as River did, it’s Shia. I’m more excited than I was before, but Harrison’s still too old. Could it not have been a retooling with someone like Nathan Fillion as Indiana Jones still young and capable kicking butt?
I’ve got a bad feeling about this….
As for trusting Spielberg, I’m not so sure…I never thought that George Lucas could screw up the Star Wars franchise, but he did with Episodes 1,2 and 3. Royally. If one giant falls, so can another….
Give me a break. Kids in an action movie=Lame. Last Action Hero? Temple of Doom? Phantom Menace?
They don’t need kids, all they need is Indy, a whip, a leather jacket, a fedora, tunes by J.Williams and a female costar that can drink and fight as well as Marion.
So first people who run for President deny they’ll run then do so, then Michael Jordan said he’d never return and came back from retirement, now Shia Lelamelastname with the unimpressive resume’s pulling it? Kind of lame, IMHO.
I’ll see the movie, as it looks good. Good enough for me to poop on!
Well, he could be Harrison Ford’s kid. Look at Alex Trebeck (sp?) Wasn’t he like, 70 when he got his girlfriend preggers? It could happen…I also agree with Ryan G. He’s super HOT!!!
So I went to see Disturbia this weekend, just thinking it’d be something to laugh at, but then something really weird happened. It ended up being good. Shia was really impressive (and underused on SNL tonight) and I can’t wait to see what he does next. But maybe that’s just because it’s Transformers.
I am excited for Shia. Granted, I’ve never watched any of the Indiana Jones movie so I can’t say if this will hurt or improve the movie’s chances. But I can talk about Shia. All day, actually. The boy is a GREAT actor. Since his Even Stevens days (which he won an Emmy for, by the way). Watching that show – which was one of the best shows Disney WILL ever have – you could see that a star was born. He owned every scene he was in. And now that he’s branched out to the big screen, he’s been unstoppable. Since what,2003, he’s been in great movies with great movie stars and the CRITICS love him. Pretty sure that the people that are denouncing him have not watched one movie he was in. They are more concerned with the franchise. People, don’t be down on Shia; he will surprise you. Trust.
Kinda shallow, but he’s becoming quite a handsome guy.
Does anyone else think this is just a bad idea? The original trilogy is one of the best ever, at least the first film, which is nearly flawless.
But now, some 17 years after the last one they are making a new film after spending all that time trying to get a script that works. Everyone is worried about Harrison Ford being too old to play the part. I don’t think that’s the problem. They’ll compensate for that by setting the time period accordingly. I think the real problems are:
1) Harrison Ford just doesn’t have that Indiana Jones swagger in him anymore. Look at his last decade of roles, he’s completely angry and boring with none of the dimension that made Indy so iconic.
2) Spielberg doesn’t make movies like that anymore. His films now (even the fantasies) are grim and realistic, with a great deal of thanks to his new cinematographer Janus Kaminski. His new films also have difficulty with the type of humor that made Indy fun.
3) When the last films were made, most of the effects were practical effects, made with models, miniatures and great camera effects. Nowadas, CGI gives everything an incredibly realistic if overproduced look. The best comparison is the Fortress of Solitude in the original Superman moves versus the new one. It was so much cooler when they built the thing instead of shot on green screens.
4) Lucas is involved and loves his CGI and childish humor. Can he restrain himself?
5) It takes place in the 50s (to account for the age difference). Who’s the vilain going to be. Not the Nazis. The Russians? Been done over and over and the cold war doesn’t resonate as much.
Shia will be a good addition. Is he the offspring of Karen Allen’s character from the first movie?? Antbody know?
Shia will be a good addition. Is he the offspring of Karen Allen’s character from the first movie?? Antbody know?
I didn’t really like seeing Indy as an old man or a kid on Lucas’ TV series, and I don’t think I like the idea of him having children either. Leave Indy as the roguish loner, I say.
Still, any of Lucas’ dramatic flaws will be held in check by Spielberg, who almost always delivers the goods in grand style (Terminal really annoyed me), and I still believe Ford has what it takes to hit it out of the park. Cate Blanchett is a perfect choice for female lead.
Any John Rhys-Davies return? That would be great. Its a shame Denholm Elliott passed away after Last Crusade…Marcus Brody was such a great character. Connery we don’t need…but it would cool to see him back; Last Crusade was of Connery’s few post-Bond winners.
Am very worried about this one. I agree with the other posts, Ford’s too old, and with no nazis, I am worried about who the villan will be. Inspired casting though with Blanchett and Winstone, and Shia is likeable, if still largely unproven in the movies. I too am wary about the father-son deal which has been done in just about every movie ever, so I hope they do something clever. But why not leave a perfect trilogy alone.
He can’t be any worse than Short Round, can he?