indiana jones
Image via Lucasfilm

Steven Spielberg Circles ‘Indiana Jones 5’, ‘West Side Story’ For Next Movies

Steven Speilberg is a busy guy, and it seems that he is showing no signs of slowing down. Although the filmmaker currently has a film (and oscar contender) in theaters with ‘The Post‘, and another coming in March in ‘Ready Player One‘, it seems that Spielberg is already contemplating what his next project(s) might be. Deadline is reporting that the filmmaker is currently circling both ‘Indiana Jones 5‘ and the ‘West Side Story‘ remake for his next two movies. The filmmaker is currently winding down from his last two projects–and a decision probably won’t be made until after this year’s awards season wraps up–but here’s all that we know about what the director’s next project might be.

The wheels have been in motion for some time with ‘Indiana Jones 5‘, dating all the way back to a 2015 announcement of development on the sequel by Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy. At was also around this time that Chris Pratt was rumored, but never confirmed for the film. Then, In 2016, an official announcement was made, dating the film for a July 19, 2019. Frequent Spielberg collaborator David Koepp was hired to write the script soon thereafter, confirming that the film would continue the events of ‘Kingdom of the Crystal Skull‘, and that Harrison Ford would not be killed off in the story. The release date was then pushed a year to July 10, 2020, so Spielberg could make ‘The Post‘, but Koepp said last year that everyone is happy with the script and that it all basically comes down to timing at this point.

As far as the ‘West Side Story‘ remake: why? According to deadline, the filmmaker has long had a fascination with the 1961 classic that was co-directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. Another Spielberg collaborater, Tony Kushner is currently writing the script, but the project has been in the works since 2016 so there’s a good possibility that Spielberg could shoot the remake right after ‘Indiana Jones 5’ wraps production. This would would set-up both films to arrive in 2020, a pattern that Spielberg seems to follow every time he makes a big effects movie like ‘Indiana Jones 5‘.

This trend first of shooting movies back-to-back began in all the way back in 1993 with ‘Jurassic Park’ & ‘Schindler’s List’. Since then, he’s double featured films in this manner in 2002 with ‘Minority Report’ & ‘Catch Me if You Can’, in 2005 with ‘War of the Worlds’ & ‘Munich’, in 2011 with ‘The Adventures of Tintin’ & ‘War Horse’, not to mention back to back years where the director has released films in between those gaps. And by the looks of things, he isn’t looking to slow this pace down anytime soon.

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About Taylor Salan

Taylor Salan is a independent filmmaker who currently resides in the San Fernando Valley. Since childhood, Taylor Salan had a fascination with movies. Although he was an avid fan of film as a child, it wasn’t until his years as a young adult that his passion for the art of filmmaking truly came to fruition. A current student of the film production program at California State University Northridge, Taylor studies Cinematography but ultimately has plans to direct full time if afforded the opportunity. In his spare time, Taylor produces audio podcasts and blogs about film for ageofthenerd.com. He is also a longtime musician, playing drums for over 8 years.

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