It has been 18 years since Indiana Jones went on his last crusade but now the Man in the Hat is back for one last adventure.

Indiana Jones returns (now with gray hair and two sidekicks) to capture audiences everywhere on May 22, 2008 for Memorial Day weekend. The fourth installment has been in development hell for eighteen years and after numerous delayed production starts and screenplays one has to be wary of a flop eighteen years in the making.

I mean how many films stay the course for a trilogy let alone a “quadrilogy” especially when the fourth installment is set so far apart from the previous film. One also has to wonder the style that the film will be filmed in. Harrison Ford now in his sixties begs the question of whether he can truly revamp the character he made famous or rather made him famous. I ask these questions so that one can see the challenge this film faces, the obstacles in which producer George Lucas and long-time friend and director Steven Spielberg face.

Well…I am here to put myself and fans to ease. Last month I went on a browsing trip through the on-line realms of Wikipedia and spoiler and rumor sites like IGN Film Force and Counting Down to find as much information possible about the current development of the film. Nothing was really mentioned in detail. So I chose the traditional path of simply checking the website for the Indiana Jones films. Much to my surprise it had been recently updated with a release date for the new film but more importantly the first look at Harrison dawning the dirty clothes and his famous hat. It was a sight to behold for me. I mean there were three film series my father made me watch while growing up. Star Wars, Star Trek and Indiana Jones. No other movie mattered. When I saw Mr. Ford back in the character it gave me a since of hope that the previous questions I had been asking - which had been clouding my mind once rumors of the project were announced so long ago - didn’t matter.

After composing myself a week later Comic Con 2008 launched the biggest surprise it could. During the Paramount panel a special live feed interrupted the panel speeches and it was Spielberg live from the set. During his talk with the fans, Spielberg said, “This film I am making is for you, the fans.” Watching this on G4-TV’s coverage gave me goosebumps. All of a sudden Harrison came to the screen all dressed in the all to familiar fatigues, then actor Ray Winstone spoke, followed by young up-coming star Shia LeBeouf. But, perhaps the biggest moment came when Actress Karen Allen came out. “Holy Crap, Marion is Back!” cried my Mom who was ignoring the broadcast until she looked up and saw the actress talking about the film.

So where am I going with this….

Simple, this movie is not anything to worry about. I truly believe Spielberg when he says this movie is for us fans. I mean why would he and Mr. Lucas even bother 18 years later making another film it doesn’t seem logical. To finish my rant…Indiana Jones and the (insert here) is going to be a triumph fan film that is surely going to please anyone who is truly connected to the original three films. As far as the cast is concerned you couldn’t of picked better co-stars for Harrison. Mr. Winstone, Mr. LeBeouf, the return of Mrs. Allen mark only a few. Cate Blanchett, John Hurt and Jim Broadbent are also signed to appear in the film. Who they are playing has yet to be revealed but rest assured they will not disappoint. Oh, you may have noticed I haven’t mentioned Sean Connery that wasn’t by mistake. Unfortunately he is enjoying retirement too much but that if any film would have gotten him to make a return to the screen it would have been another Indiana Jones. Or so he says. On the film’s website Connery did make this statement: “I love working with Steven and George, and it goes without saying that it is an honor to have Harrison as my son. But in the end retirement is just too damned much fun. I, do however, have one bit advice for Junior: Demand the critters be digital, the cliffs be low and for goodness sake keep that whip by your side in case you need to escape from the stunt coordinator…I’ll see you all in May 22, 2008 at the theater.”
So there you have it, nothing to worry about, the man in the hat is back, his father is not, the girlfriend returns, and we do not know the subtitle (yet). There is nothing to worry about Steven and George will honor the film, Harrison will be nothing short of brilliant and the surrounding cast will be no problem.

May 22, 2008 , Man! that seems like forever.