Steven Spielberg Wants Harrison Ford to Be the Only Indiana Jones, Forever

Over the last couple of years we’ve heard some rumors about a possible Indiana Jones reboot or “legacyquel” from Disney, which would either re-cast Harrison Ford’s iconic role or use him to pass the torch to a younger star — one who still has plenty of years ahead of them, just waiting to be sold off to a blockbuster franchise. Disney has already shot down these rumors, while director Steven Spielberg has finally chimed in to let fans know he has no intention of replacing Harrison Ford.

Previously, producer Frank Marshall intervened in the press to assure us that they’re not going to do the James Bond thing by re-casting Indy throughout the years, while Ford himself recently said that he’d love to make another Indiana Jones sequel. Disney’s only real options are to make another sequel with Spielberg and Ford, or to go the prequel route.

As for Spielberg, he tells Screen Daily he can’t imagine anyone else playing the role that Ford made so iconic:

I don’t think anyone could replace Harrison as Indy, I don’t think that’s ever going to happen. It’s certainly not my intention to ever have another actor step into his shoes in the way there have been many actors that have played Spider-Man or Batman. There is only going to be one actor playing Indiana Jones and that’s Harrison Ford.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that Disney isn’t thinking up potential spinoff and prequel ideas to keep the franchise going when Ford eventually retires, and while the actor has proven he’s still remarkably badass when need be, facts are facts: he could make one more Indy sequel, but that’s probably it.

But one more would be great, particularly since Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was so awful that it inspired a new phrase for “jumping the shark.” A sequel also leaves open the possibility for casting a younger protege that could lead to a new franchise, but the last time they tried to do that we got Mutt Williams. Never again, guys. Never again.