James Mangold in Talks to Replace Steven Spielberg as Director of 'Indiana Jones 5'

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James Mangold is in talks to replace Steven Spielberg as the director of “Indiana Jones 5,” an individual with knowledge of the situation told TheWrap.

No deal has closed, but this would be the first time in the franchise’s 39 years that Spielberg wouldn’t direct an “Indy” movie.

Spielberg is set to stay on the project as a producer. When the movie was first announced in 2016, it was set for release in July 2019. It was pushed to July 10, 2020, before it was pushed again to July 9, 2021.

Also Read: 'Indiana Jones 5' Bumped Back a Year to Summer 2021 Release

Jonathan Kasdan was recently brought on to edit the script after original screenwriter David Koepp exited the project. Kasdan wrote “Raider of the Lost Ark,” while Koepp penned “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.”

Harrison Ford is set to reprise his role as Dr. Henry Walton “Indiana” Jones.

Mangold recently took over another iconic franchise when he stepped in to direct “Logan” in the “Wolverine” franchise,” which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Also Read: Harrison Ford on Who Should Play Indiana Jones After Him: 'Nobody! When I'm Gone, He's Gone!'

Most recently, he directed “Ford v Ferrari,” which won Best Film Editing and Best Sound Editing at the 2020 Academy Awards. His other most recent credit was “The Greatest Showman,” on which he was an executive producer.

Mangold is represented by WME, Management 360 and Block-Korenbrot Public Relations.

Variety first reported the news.

Indiana Jones: 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' Historical Fact-Check (Photos)

Now 75 years old, Harrison Ford isn't confined to outer space for wild adventures. He's been in some tight situations here on Earth that make Han Solo's Jabba-the-Hut confrontation look tame. The first Indiana Jones film, "Raiders of the Lost Ark," is set in the late 1930s, when countries were on the brink of World War II. And now TheWrap has examined the Oscar-winning Steven Spielberg film against its historical backdrop.
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Are the Hovito people real?

At the beginning of the movie, Indiana Jones is seeking a fertility idol in the Peruvian jungle. When he gets out of the booby-trapped temple with the infamous boulder, he's pursued by the Hovitos, descendants of the Chachapoyas.
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While the Hovitos and their language are fictional, the Chachapoyas are real -- at least, they were. Known as the "Warriors of the Clouds," they lived high in the Andes Mountains.

Also Read: Ron Howard Has Saved Han Solo Before – Here’s His ‘American Graffiti’ Scene With Harrison Ford (Video)
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Do they speak Spanish in Peru?

While in the temple on the hunt for the idol, Indy's guide tricks him, thinking he's leaving Indy behind. He leaves with an "Adios, amigo."
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Yes, the principal language in Peru is Spanish. Aymara and Quechua are other languages spoken in the South American country.
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Is Tanis a real place?

Indy ends up in Tanis, where the Nazis are searching for the Ark of the Covenant. It's in Tanis that the professor eventually finds the Ark.
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Yes, Tanis is a real place. The ancient Egyptian city was located in Northeastern Egypt on the delta of the Nile River, and eventually became the capital. In 1939, royal tombs were discovered. Jewelry, precious stones, gold and pharaoh masks were all found -- but no Ark.

Also Read: 90 Best Movies of the ’90s, From ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ to ‘The Matrix’ (Photos)
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Is the Ark of the Covenant real?

The whole point of the movie is finding the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis. Indy and his pals cross the globe to get to it first.
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If you believe the Old Testament, then yes. The Ark of the Covenant is part of the story of Moses, and serves as the symbol of God's divine presence. Still, a physical ark has yet to be discovered.

Also Read: 15 Times ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ Mimicked John Hughes Movies (Photos)
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Was Hitler really obsessed with the occult?

The movie hinges on Hitler's obsession with the occult, and his desire to collect old religious artifacts that might bring him more power.
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There have been books and documentaries about Hitler's connections with the occult, mostly due to the shared belief that there is such a thing as a superior race.

Also Read: 50 Actors Over 50 Who Are Still Conquering Hollywood (Photos)
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TheWrap probes 1930s-set adventure classic on Harrison Ford’s 75th birthday

Now 75 years old, Harrison Ford isn't confined to outer space for wild adventures. He's been in some tight situations here on Earth that make Han Solo's Jabba-the-Hut confrontation look tame. The first Indiana Jones film, "Raiders of the Lost Ark," is set in the late 1930s, when countries were on the brink of World War II. And now TheWrap has examined the Oscar-winning Steven Spielberg film against its historical backdrop.

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