Indiana Jones 5's Biggest Missed Opportunity Was Its Alternate Ending
Sometimes the first decision is the right one.
Making its debut in 1981, the Indiana Jones franchise quickly established itself as a major action film series that garnered universal adoration around the world. Moreover, it swiftly became a cinematic classic, forever etching the name of its protagonist, portrayed by Harrison Ford, into the annals of film history. Since the release of the first film, Raiders of the Lost Ark, there have been five Indiana Jones movies, the most recent of which premiered just two weeks ago.
Millions of people have already seen Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, contributing to the movie's $250 million box office. While many fans are delighted to see their beloved character return to the big screen, others are disappointed by the perceived mediocrity of the production. The film's finale, in particular, has been called out for being especially disappointing by numerous viewers.
According to the movie's plot, the main antagonist, portrayed by Mads Mikkelsen, attempts to use the titular artefact to time-travel to pre-WWII Germany to assassinate Hitler, assume his position, and lead the Nazis to victory. However, something goes awry, and he ends up in the midst of the 200 BC Battle of Syracuse alongside Indiana, who now must devise a way to escape from the past - a feat he somehow manages to pull off. Few people are impressed by this finale.
In light of this, the news that the fifth instalment of Indiana Jones might have had an alternate ending has resonated with many audience members. In a recent interview with Inverse, James Mangold, the director of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, revealed that the movie might have ended differently and explained why the producers opted for the ending seen in the theatrical release.
According to the director, the original storyline intended to take the main characters to Berlin, where Indiana would have to prevent Hitler's assassination - a premise that might sound ironic, given that Jones is generally regarded as the quintessential cinematic anti-Nazi character. Nevertheless, it seems like a compelling narrative twist, even though it might have transformed The Dial of Destiny into a 'spy movie.'
'The more I sketched that out in my mind, the more that became kind of just a spy movie at the end. I couldn't find a way to emotional resonance,' James Mangold told the outlet.
It's unfortunate that the filmmakers abandoned the original idea, seeing how it sounds far less absurd than Romans shooting down a modern warplane with ancient weaponry. Perhaps the alternate ending would have provided a more coherent and consistent narrative for the fifth Indiana Jones film. Alas, we'll never know…
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is still showing in theatres.
Source: Inverse.