However, one established character never made it to the screen. After LaBeouf played Indy and Marion's son in The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the character died as a casualty during the Vietnam War. Writing this event was purposeful on Mangold's part, as he explained to Variety.
Will Shia LaBeouf be in the new Indiana Jones? He is not expected to be. Reportedly, he and Harrison Ford did not get along at all well on the fourth installment of the franchise, with more than one source saying that Harrison said he would not be taking part in any capacity if Shia was involved with the film.
Henry "Mutt" Williams, born Henry Walton Jones III, was the illegitimate son of Marion Ravenwood and Indiana Jones. His stepfather was Colin Williams, who was killed during World War II.
Henry Walton “Indiana” Jones—the fictional adventurer, explorer, hunky professor, and intrepid archeologist—is almost certainly based on a real person: naturalist and palaeontologist Roy Chapman Andrews. Or as Sara Appelbee calls him, “Granddad.”
Before there was Harrison Ford, there was Tom Selleck. “Three Men and a Baby” alum Selleck, 78, was the first choice to play Indiana Jones in 1981's “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
Lucas also gave away his screenwriting credit out of great respect for Leigh Brackett for The Empire Strikes Back after her death from cancer. He also acted as story writer and executive producer on the first four Indiana Jones films, which his colleague and good friend Steven Spielberg directed.
However, one established character never made it to the screen. After LaBeouf played Indy and Marion's son in The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the character died as a casualty during the Vietnam War. Writing this event was purposeful on Mangold's part, as he explained to Variety.
The character, a '50s-style greaser, was Indiana's only child with Marion Ravenwood (his love interest in 1981's "Raiders of the Lost Ark"), though Indiana doesn't find out about him until the events of the film.
Afterwards, Marion and Jones finally succeeded in getting married. The two were married for twelve years before Mutt's death in the Vietnam War drove them apart and threatened to end their marriage. However, Indiana and Marion eventually reconciled.
In 2008's Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, it's revealed that Marion had years ago secretly given birth to Indy's son (played by Shia LaBeouf), and the trio travel to the titular kingdom together. Once their adventure ends, Indy and Marion finally tie the knot.
Lucas used the name “Indiana” because that was the name of George's dog, an Alaskan Malamute named Indiana. There's a bit of meta comedy at the end of Last Crusade (1989) in which it's revealed that Jones was named after the dog. This was the literal truth.
What was the age difference between Indiana Jones and his dad?
Sean Connery played Harrison Ford's dad in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," but they were only 12 years apart. At the time of release, Ford was 47 and and Connery was 59 — though, somehow, it's never unbelievable when Connery calls Ford "Junior."
Tom Selleck had the job, but he also incurred an obligation to do a television series and he was unable to get out of that contract," Ford said during a panel discussion, as he was asked how he came to play Indiana Jones. "I became the second choice, and I'm very grateful for Tom. Thank you, Tom, man.
Mutt Williams, Indiana Jones' son, was killed off before the events of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, leaving Indy devastated. The franchise has a history of changing sidekicks, possibly influenced by Steven Spielberg's initial desire to make a James Bond-style film.
Donovan shot Henry, Sr. to force Indiana to retrieve the Grail in order to save his father's life. Indy passed through the lethal traps of the Grail Temple, and eventually returned with the Grail, which was used to heal Henry's fatal gunshot.
It may not have been a surprise to diehard fans that LaBeouf, now 37, was not invited to return after he criticized his installment of the franchise in a 2010 interview with the Los Angeles Times. “I feel like I dropped the ball on the legacy that people loved and cherished," LaBeouf said at the time.
Why Shia LaBeouf Didn't Return For Indiana Jones 5. Mutt was never supposed to play a part in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, but LaBeouf likely wouldn't have returned anyway. In an interview with Variety, LaBeouf said that he “[doesn't] like” Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
The real-life inspiration for Indiana Jones: Roy Chapman Andrews, an intrepid American explorer and paleontologist, blazed trails through uncharted lands, unearthing treasures both ancient and profound.
Why isn't Shia LaBeouf in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny? The diplomatic answer is that director James Mangold simply wanted to go in a different direction. "I wanted to capture that wonderful energy between Indy and an intrepid female character," he said in a red carpet interview with Variety.
Mutt does not appear in the new (and final) film, this June's "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" — but Indiana does explain what happened to his son and why he's not around. Ahead, we're breaking down Mutt's final fate and why the character and LaBeouf didn't return to the franchise.
Henry Walton Jones Sr. Sean Connery portrays Dr. Jones in his debut in the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, while Lloyd Owen portrays him in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.
During filming Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), Harrison Ford was 41. Ford was 46 years old during the filming of the next film, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). Incidentally, James Bond famed actor Sean Connery played Ford's father in this film.
In Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Harrison Ford closes out his chapter in what's been often referred to as “the role of a lifetime.” Ford began the franchise in 1981 when he was 39 and now, at 81, has literally had this gig for half of his life.
After shooting "Magnum," Selleck was offered the lead role in the 1981 picture, "Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark," by its famed director, Steven Spielberg, himself. "Steven [Spielberg] said, 'Here's the script. Go read it.
