The new cover art confirms the locale and period of the eagerly anticipated sequel for Indiana Jones 5. On June 30, 2023, Indiana Jones 5, which will follow the fourth film in the series, will make its debut. Due to Disney’s ownership of Lucasfilm and its choice to focus on Star Wars franchise revitalization before Indiana Jones, the project was delayed for a considerable time. After several setbacks, the movie is now starting to take shape. Filming was further delayed when James Mangold chose to take over as director after Steve Spielberg decided to leave the project.
The idea of the movie served as the inspiration for the cover art that Empire Magazine debuted exclusively for Indiana Jones 5. The magazine gave readers a first glimpse at Jones’ (Harrison Ford) eagerly anticipated comeback, but subscribers also received a unique gift in the form of an illustrated cover. The stunning artwork by Sam Hadley shows Indiana Jones standing in the 1960s-era New York Metropolis with skyscrapers towering above him and a golden light enveloping the city, providing the first understanding of the setting and era of Indiana Jones 5.
What the New York setting and timeline of Indiana Jones 5 Indicate
The narrative of Indiana Jones 5 hasn’t been discussed much, but the setting and timing have offered some clues. The 1960s timeline had been widely reported before it was confirmed, in part because it made sense for the movie to start in this era given that the previous film took place in 1957 and the delays for Indiana Jones 5 made it impossible to hide the fact that at least a few years have passed. The 1960s provide the ideal backdrop for further exploring the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Given that director Harrison Ford has hinted that Indiana Jones 5 will pick up after 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which was set in 1957, it will be intriguing to see how long after that movie takes place. Though the new cover art, which confirms a 1960s location, seems to indicate less than a decade of separation, one would expect the tale would follow suit given the approximately 15 years that separated both publications. Ford was sighted on the movie’s London and Italy sets, breaking the Indiana Jones formula by setting the traditionally international franchise in the United States, even if it only works for a few scenes.
Even if the addition of aliens in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull wasn’t well received, it demonstrated the franchise’s willingness to explore science fiction. Given that the weapons race and the first Moon landing occurred in the 1960s, it wouldn’t be shocking if Indiana Jones 5 addressed some space-related issues. Hopefully, this will be done in a way that would be more appealing to audiences. This argument might also be supported by the idea that New York City was the setting for the ticker-tape parade that welcomed the Apollo 11 crew home after their mission to orbit.