For many moviegoers, June 29th saw the release of one of the most anticipated movies of the year, “Indiana Jones and the Wheel of Destiny”. One of the big highlights in the film is the opening scene, which is not only typically Indy spectacular, gripping and funny. It also features a young Indiana Jones – played by Harrison Ford – who has been digitally rejuvenated using the latest technology and archive footage.
Not only is this impressive from a technical point of view, but it also had an effect on the execution of what was at least the second best sequence in the entire film for FILMSTARTS editor Daniel Fabian. Because Ford, who will soon be 81, did not leave the action in the huge opening scene to a stuntman, but stepped in front of the camera himself. And that not only impresses in the cinema, but also during the shooting – as the cast of “Indiana Jones 5” revealed to us in an interview.
Harrison Ford: Still in the thick of the action at age 80!
In addition to Harrison Ford, we also caught up with Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“Fleabag”), Mads Mikkelsen (“Casino Royale”) and Thomas Kretschmann (“King Kong”) for a chat and to check things out: the cast and crew have already been to Fords . We admired the energy on set and wanted to know which of the Indy actor’s stunts impressed them the most – and what he actually did himself.
Although he was only present in a few action sequences with Harrison Ford, Bond villain Mads Mikkelsen, after a moment’s hesitation, remembered a moment that was forever etched in his memory: “Yes, he jumped from one tuk tuk to another tuk tuk!”
When it comes to the action sequences at the beginning of the movie, with Harrison Ford acting as a young Indy, it’s based on what’s seen in other movies that use digital aging: “You’ve got to move like a 38- year old. You can’t walk like you’re 80. That was our focus – and they did the rest on the computer.”
“It was scary,” Thomas Kretschmann recalls the energy and presence Ford showed on set despite his age. “You can’t tell by looking at him. […] And then you don’t feel it either. I didn’t think about age for a second. I only saw Harrison Ford there and played everything with him” – even though he had spots all over his face, which were later used to “put” the young face on the body.
Kretschmann is impressed with the result: “In the film you see how he moves. You can’t complain.” The stunt that Thomas Kretschmann especially remembers: “The way he hangs in the church… that took my breath away.”
“Indiana Jones and the Wheel of Destiny” has been running in cinemas across Germany since June 29, 2023.