Indiana Jones Franchise Hints at Sixth Film Even After Dial of Destiny’s Disappointing Box Office

So, it sounds like Indiana Jones isn't riding off into the sunset just yet—at least according to Kathleen Kennedy. Even as she gets ready to hand over the keys at Lucasfilm, Kennedy is leaving the possibility wide open that Indy could dust off the fedora for another go-round. Yes, really. I know Dial of Destiny didn’t exactly blow the doors off the box office, but let’s be honest: if there’s even a crack in the door, Hollywood will wedge its foot in there.

Indy’s Not Dead, He’s Just Napping

In a recent chat with Deadline, Kennedy actually sounded pretty bullish about Indiana Jones's future—even if nobody is officially working on another one right now. According to her, the main reason Dial of Destiny happened at all was because Harrison Ford wasn’t ready to hang up the whip after Crystal Skull:

'He did not want Indy to end with the fourth movie. He wanted a chance at another, and we did that for him.'

Looking ahead? She’s basically saying Indy’s legacy is locked in, but nothing’s ruled out. 'I don’t think Indy will ever be done, but I don’t think anybody is interested right now in exploring it.' Anyone else picturing a studio exec rubbing their hands together?

As for the possibility of a sixth go-round, Kennedy’s answer is textbook Hollywood non-committal: 'You never know. But we are all still here, Steven and Frank and I, and Harrison and George. So we get to say whether there’s going to be any more, or not.'

Passing the Torch (for Real This Time?)

Now, about that whole “stepping down” thing. Kennedy confirms she’s out as Lucasfilm president after 2025. She’s passed the baton to Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan—if you follow Lucasfilm, those names will probably ring a bell. Evidently, she’s been plotting this transition for two years, talking directly with Bob Iger and Alan Horn about her exit game.

But she’s not riding into the retirement home. Kennedy says she’s itching to get back to old-school producing (read: actually making movies, not sitting in boardrooms), and she’ll still be attached to Star Wars in some capacity.

Kennedy on AI, Regrets, and Recasting Han Solo

• She’s interested in using AI—responsibly, she says—if it helps tell bigger stories. Presumably, this doesn’t mean Indy will come back as a chatbot, but who knows?
• Looking back, she claims 'no regrets.' Okay, almost no regrets: apparently, she does cringe a bit about Solo: A Star Wars Story. Specifically, recasting Han Solo was a lose-lose. 'We put [Alden Ehrenreich] in an impossible situation.'
• But as for giving Harrison Ford another swing with Indy? Zero regrets. The fans may be split, but she’s fine with that choice.

The upshot: Don’t expect another Indiana Jones flick tomorrow—but don’t be shocked if someone, someday, tries to make Indy happen again. In Hollywood, nothing stays buried for long. If the old gang (Spielberg, Lucas, Ford, Kennedy, Marshall) want to dig up that treasure one more time, apparently nobody’s stopping them.