Harrison Ford Prepares to Leave Indiana Jones After ‘Dial of Destiny’: “Last Time I’ll Play the Character”

Harrison Ford is preparing to say goodbye to one of his most iconic roles as the Indiana Jones franchise comes to a close later this year.

Speaking to Total Film, the action movie star looked back on being a part of this franchise for over 40 years, where he got to work alongside filmmaking heavyweights Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will be his final hurrah as the adventurous archeologist, and Ford seems ready to say goodbye.

“This is the final film in the series, and this is the last time I’ll play the character. I anticipate that it will be the last time that he appears in a film,” he said.

“I had been ambitious to do this film for 10 years, and there finally came a time when we all committed to that,” Ford continued. “It was a joyous moment for me. I think it’s a rare situation that I find myself in.”

The 80-year-old actor has been open about wanting to see Jones’ journey through to the end. Dial of Destiny will show Jones revisiting his past as he faces off against an old foe and goes on an adventure with his god daughter Helena Shaw, played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, in search of a relic that drove her father mad.

This final installment also uses digital effects to de-age the actor, making him appear younger in flashbacks that show him fighting against Nazi Jürgen Voller, played by Mads Mikkelsen.

“I’ve been able to deliver amazing films developed by Steven [Spielberg] and George [Lucas] over a 40-year period, and to end it not with a whimper, but a bang, has been my greatest ambition for this excursion,” Ford said.

Spielberg has expressly said that, once Ford retires from the role, no one will be taking over the mantle. In a 2015 interview, the filmmaker said he never intends to have “another actor step into his shoes” as has been done with Spider-Man and Batman.

“I don’t think anyone could replace Harrison as Indy, I don’t think that’s ever going to happen,” he said at the times, later adding, “There is only going to be one actor playing Indiana Jones, and that’s Harrison Ford.”

Regardless, there have been some rumors that Disney+ is developing a television series based on the character. Ford confirmed he would not be involved “if it does come to fruition.”

This may be Ford’s last journey as Indiana Jones, but this end of an era does not mark the beginning of his retirement. The actor can still be seen in the Paramount+ series 1923, alongside Helen Mirren.

Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny opens in theaters June 30.