TheIndiana Jonesfranchise may have been the biggest name in adventure films in the 1980s, but the same cannot be said nowadays. The series has struggled to reinvent itself in the 2000s, and the early reviews ofIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destinyhave further shown that this series is well past its prime. The glory days ofIndiana Jonesseem to be over, but MachineGames' upcomingIndiana Jonesproject may be able to right the ship.
SinceIndiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the franchise has begun showing its age, andHarrison Ford has become less believableas the titular character. The studio just does not know what to do with the archeologist, but MachineGames' fresh perspective could help breathe new life into the aging series. While the studio has not revealed much about the project, it could be exactly what Lucasfilm andIndiana Jonesneeds right now.
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Indiana Jones Desperately Needs Something Fresh
The first threeIndiana Jonesmovies are iconic and are considered some of the best adventure movies around. Viewers were enthralled by Harrison Ford’s performance as the wisecracking archeologist, and each adventure felt better than the last.Raiders of the Lost Arkwas a great startto this franchise,The Temple of Doomexpanded upon it in exciting ways, andThe Last Crusadebrought it to a riveting conclusion. It was a great thrill ride from beginning to end, but then it lingered on a bit too long.
Fans got to enjoy more Indy hijinks throughThe Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, but it would take 19 years for the series to return to the big screen.Kingdom of the Crystal Skullwas supposed to be this bombastic new adventure, but it was ultimately disappointing. While it was financially successful, the actual story left much to be desired. Harrison Ford was as good as ever in the role, albeit a bit less believable, and it served as a fine second conclusion to the series. Many viewers thought this would be the end of Harrison Ford’sIndiana Jonescareer, butThe Dial of Destinyis on the horizon, and the early reviews seem to indicate that it is worse than its predecessor.
These last twoIndiana Jonesfilms are a pretty clear example that this series' glory days are over. The stories are not as exciting, the concept is becoming even more outlandish, and Harrison Ford is 80 years old. It feels like this series either needs to recast and reinvent itself, or it needs to finally end.NewIndiana Jonesadventures sound fun, but they may not be the most plausible nowadays, at least on the big screen. The series is in desperate need of a change, and that is where MachineGames comes into play.
In 2021, MachineGames announced that it was developinga brand-newIndiana Jonesvideo game. The studio is best known for the modernWolfensteingames, and fans cannot wait to see what it has planned for the archeologist. While it has yet to share any specifics about the project, there is a chance that it givesIndiana Jonessome much-needed life. The studio will offer a fresh new perspective on the iconic franchise, and a new actor will likely take the reins. A brand-new adventure with a new take on the lead character sounds like the exact thing this series needs right now, and hopefully it is worth the wait.
It may be too early to call it a hit, but there is a strong chance it will be the most uniqueIndiana Jonesin a while. If MachineGames is allowed to run wild within the franchise, then it could create an experience unlike any other. If games likeStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Ordercanreinvigorate interest inStar Warsgames, then nothing is stoppingIndiana Jonesfrom doing the same for its franchise.
MachineGames’Indiana Jonesgame is in development.
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