Indiana Jones fans logging into Disney+ might be dismayed by most of the franchise’s disappearance from the platform, but there’s a simple explanation for their sudden absence. There was a major sliding doors moment for the Indiana Jones movie franchise where the originally cast Tom Selleck was forced to drop out due to his commitment to Magnum P.I.’s pilot, with George Lucas and Steven Spielberg then turning to Harrison Ford. The rest is cinematic history.
The star would play the role five times on the big screen, while Ford also cameoed on The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles TV series during the 1990s. Indiana Jones has become a beloved adventure franchise and is defined by Ford’s leading turn, their spectacular setpieces and the blend of history and adventure. Ford signed off from the role following 2023’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, which is the only entry not directed by Steven Spielberg, with James Mangold setting in instead.
Related All Of Spielberg’s Indiana Jones Movies Removed From Disney+ Worldwide The four Steven Spielberg Indiana Jones films have been removed from Disney+ worldwide, with no word on why the streamer made the decision.
Disney Doesn’t Own The Distribution Rights To The First Four Indiana Jones Movies
Paramount retains the distribution rights to the Steven Spielberg era of Indiana Jones
Beginning from October 1st, 2024, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull have all been removed from Disney+. This leaves Dial of Destiny as the sole Indiana Jones adventure available on the streamer, alongside tie-in specials Dial of Destiny: A Special Look and Timeless Heroes: Indiana Jones and Harrison Ford.
Some viewers might be confused over the Spielberg films suddenly disappearing, especially if Disney owns the IP. This goes back to Disney purchasing Lucasfilm in 2012 for a sum of $4 billion, which gave the House of Mouse ownership of major franchises like Star Wars and Indiana Jones. However, Paramount Pictures still retained the distribution rights to the Spielberg Indiana Jones movies, despite the Disney purchase of Lucasfilm.
Disney reached an agreement with Paramount in 2023 to stream the first four outings on Disney+ to coincide with the release of Dial of Destiny. That licensing agreement has now expired, leading to the films being removed from the platform. This might be frustrating to many, and sadly, it has become increasingly common for streaming services to suddenly remove major titles with little to no warning.
Steven Spielberg was very happy with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny , telling TIME that ” It’s really, really a good ‘Indiana Jones’ film. I’m really proud of what Jim [Mangold] has done with it .”
What Does Disney Own When It Comes To Indiana Jones?
Will the Steven Spielberg Indiana Jones movies return to Disney+?
Custom Image by Nick Bythrow
Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm was major news during the early 2010s, not least of which was the announcement of new Star Wars sequels. Again, there might be some confusion as to what Disney does or does not own when it comes to Indiana Jones, especially when most of the series was pulled from their streaming service. In short, Disney owns the Indiana Jones IP, including the rights to produce future movies or TV shows based on the character.
Disney owning the Indiana Jones IP does not retroactively entitle them to distribute the previous four adventures either…
This is why the Disney-produced Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is the last man standing on Disney+. However, owning the IP does not retroactively entitle them to distribute the previous four adventures either, and they no doubt had to pay an expensive licensing fee to place them on the service. In theory, the franchise is a very valuable piece of property, but there appear to be no current plans to return to it.
Where Will The Indiana Jones Movies Go Now?
The Indiana Jones series probably won’t be going to a museum
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In the streaming era, there is a certain level of irritation from viewers who have to subscribe to multiple platforms just to have access to the films and shows they want. With their removal from Disney+, the Spielberg Indiana Jones movies are currently unavailable to stream from any service, though it likely won’t take long for them to find a new home.
Every Indiana Jones Movie Distributor Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Paramount Pictures Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) Paramount Pictures Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) Paramount Pictures Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) Paramount Pictures Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) Walt Disney Studios
The most obvious place for these Indiana Jones adventures to end up is Paramount’s own service, Paramount+. Even if the final entry is missing, adding most of the franchise to the platform isn’t going to hurt its subscription numbers. An alternate plan could involve Paramount securing a new distribution deal with another major streamer, with Netflix being the most likely candidate.
Their removal from Disney+ makes it exceedingly unlikely the quadrilogy will return there anytime soon. It’s also doubtful Paramount will opt to make them unavailable for a certain period either, as again, the series is simply too profitable to consider such a tactic.
What’s The Future Of The Indiana Jones Franchise?
Is Dial of Destiny truly Indy’s final adventure?
It was genuinely emotional seeing Ford sign off with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’s ending, as it’s so rare to see the same actor play such an iconic role across 40 years. Prior to the sequel’s release, Ford underlined that the fifth installment would be his last time donning the iconic hat and whip. He went a step further with this announcement, telling Total Film:
This is the final film in the series, and this is the last time I’ll play the character. I anticipate that it will be the last time that he appears in a film.
Despite a broadly positive critical reception, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was a box-office bomb. Even if Ford had any interest in continuing with the part, the odds of a direct sequel being developed are low. In 2022, there had been reports of Disney+ prepping an Indiana Jones TV series, but by the time Dial of Destiny was gearing up for release, that notion had been quietly scrapped. Ford also told Total Film he would have no involvement if such a spinoff ever came to “fruition.”
… as much as Dial of Destiny was billed as a finale, there will always be an audience for Indiana Jones.
There is an upcoming video game titled Indiana Jones and the Great Circle set to arrive on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 in December 2024, but as for live-action Indiana Jones, it seems there is nothing in development. This shouldn’t be taken as a sign that the property will never return, because as much as Dial of Destiny was billed as a finale, there will always be an audience for Indiana Jones.
The most probable direction for the series is a total reboot, with a new actor stepping into Ford’s shoes as Indy. It would feel disrespectful to make a new entry set within the original continuity, be it a prequel or sequel. A TV series feels like a more realistic direction – be it live-action or animated – which follows the good doctor on his various, globetrotting misadventures.
Devotees of Indiana Jones are used to long gaps between outings, such as the 19-year wait between The Last Crusade and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. They could be in for a similar stretch until the next entry now, but it’s almost guaranteed to happen. In a way, it’s already surprising Disney hasn’t tried to exploit the brand more than it has, but it would be genuinely shocking if Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny truly was the end of the franchise.
Source: TIME, Total Film
