Interviews

James Mangold Takes Over From Steven Spielberg in Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny

August 24, 2023

2 mins read

James Mangold On Taking Over For Steven Spielberg In Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny takes us back to 1969, where we find Dr. Jones on the verge of retirement. But just when he thought he was out, his goddaughter Helena Shaw pulls him back in for one last thrilling adventure. Together, they embark on a quest to find a dangerous artifact that Indiana had pursued in the past. However, they’re not alone in their pursuit. Jürgen Voller, a former Nazi scientist, is also after the artifact, which has the power to alter history. The stakes have never been higher!

Harrison Ford returns as Indiana Jones for one last epic adventure in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Joining him are familiar faces like John Rhys-Davies as Sallah and Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood. But that’s not all! The star-studded cast of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny also includes Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, Mads Mikkelsen, Boyd Holbrook, Toby Jones, Ethann Isidore, and Shaunette Renée Wilson. With James Mangold taking the director’s chair from Steven Spielberg, this film promises to be a thrilling conclusion to Indiana Jones’ story, with a script written by Mangold, Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, and David Koepp.

FilmmakerFocus had the opportunity to chat with James Mangold about Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. In the interview, Mangold shares his experience collaborating with his personal hero, Steven Spielberg, and how he approached bringing Indiana Jones’ story to a close. He also delves into Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s role and how her work on Fleabag caught his attention.

James Mangold on Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

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FilmmakerFocus: James, you’ve done an incredible job with this film! It truly transported me back to my childhood.

James Mangold: That’s exactly how I felt while making it!

Really? It’s absolutely incredible! I haven’t experienced that kind of nostalgia since I was a child. Did your collaboration with Harrison Ford on Call of the Wild lead to discussions about this film?

James Mangold: We did talk about it a bit. When you’re shooting night scenes in the Santa Clarita Valley, waiting for lighting setups, it’s the perfect time to ask Harrison Ford some Star Wars and Indy questions. Around 2am, he would start sharing stories about what they were planning for the future. Little did I know, I would end up being a part of it.

That’s incredible. To create a great Indiana Jones movie, it needs to have action, adventure, history, mystery, and even a touch of horror. This film captures all of that.

James Mangold: You forgot comedy! Where’s the comedy in that list?

Oh, of course! Comedy too!

James Mangold: Comedy is right up there! I completely agree. It’s like a stew, a combination of many elements that need to work together. Comedy, thrills, heart, adventure, and spectacle. It’s a lot to orchestrate.

Absolutely. This film truly captures the essence of what Steven Spielberg achieved with the original Indiana Jones. Can you talk about balancing that influence while still making it your own?

James Mangold: I didn’t set out to make this film entirely my own. My first responsibility, and the exciting part of this opportunity, was to honor Steven Spielberg, who has been my hero throughout my life. Making it my own naturally happened. Just like how Miles Davis can’t play the trumpet the same way as someone else, even if they’re playing the same melody. The “me” part was bound to come out, but what I was most interested in was the collaboration.

I’ve had Steven Spielberg whispering in my ear since I started making movies 35 years ago, even when I was just a teenager shooting on super eight film. So the chance to actually collaborate with him, to spend time developing the script, talking to him while shooting, and having him in the editing room, these were incredible opportunities to not only meet your heroes but work with them.

That’s truly amazing. It must have been such a cool experience. As this is the final chapter of Indiana Jones’ story, what was the most important aspect to touch on and bring closure to?

In Indiana Jones’ final adventure, the archeologist reluctantly teams up with his goddaughter Helena Shaw to find a dangerous artifact that could change the course of history. And with Jürgen Voller, a former Nazi scientist, hot on their tail, the stakes have never been higher.

Check out our other Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny interviews here:

Harrison Ford & Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Indiana Jones 5 Mads Mikkelsen, Boyd Holbrook & Shaunette Renée Wilson

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Lucas Pruitt

Lucas, a self-taught cinephile from Austin, Texas, discovered his love for film at an early age through his father's vast collection of classic movies. With a background in graphic design, he combines his artistic sensibilities with his film knowledge to create visually compelling articles and video essays.