Indiana Jones: James Mangold calls out trolls on recasting rumors

The task of bringing Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny to screens has been fraught with stumbling blocks. From deciding which direction to take the story to Covid complications and beyond, the road to Harrison Ford’s final hurrah as Dr. Henry Walton “Indiana” Jones Jr. was littered with detours and sneaky spike pits. Making movies is difficult. Everyone knows this. However, do you know what makes the process more challenging? Trolls. I’m talking about loud-mouthed know-it-alls who love to spread rumors and create confusion around a project’s production. Addressing fans online, the director of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, James Mangold, got vocal about rumors from “trolling a-holes” that are spreading “misinformation” about the film.

Impatient fans creating rumors about movies is nothing new, but Mangold became frustrated when lies about Phoebe Waller-Bridge replacing Harrison Ford as the new Indy circulated online. Skepticism about Waller-Bridge picking up the bullwhip and fedora increased after the first trailer‘s release, even though Ford is front and center as the quipping explorer.

“One more time. No one is ‘taking over’ or replacing Indy or donning his hat, nor is he being ‘erased’ through some contrivance,” a frustrated Mangold wrote in a Twitter thread. “And he never was, not in any cut or script — but trolls will troll — that’s how they get their clicks.”

Anticipating a deluge of negative responses to his words, Mangold added, “The difference between trolling a-holes and everyone else is they [are] trying to make [money] off your feelings about other films and culture war politics,” Mangold continued. “They push controversial guesses as coming from ‘sources’ to gin up clicks. Let it go.”

One more time. No one is “taking over” or replacing Indy or donning his hat nor is he being “erased” thru some contrivance— and he never was, not not in any cut or script — but trolls will troll — that’s how they get their clicks. 1/

— Mangold (@mang0ld) December 2, 2022

For the record, Phoebe Waller-Bridge plays Helena, the goddaughter of Indiana Jones, in the new film. Antonio Banderas, John Rhys-Davies, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, and Mads Mikkelsen also star. Do you know who’s not in this movie? Chris Pratt. At one point, fans claimed Pratt would play a younger version of Indy for a franchise reboot. Not only were they wrong, but Pratt nearly shit himself when he heard Ford talking about his ownership of the role on the Today show.

“Don’t you get it? I’m Indiana Jones,” Ford proclaimed to the Today show.“When I’m gone, he’s gone. It’s easy.”

You don’t have to tell me twice, Mr. Ford. I hear you loud and clear and look forward to watching you do your thing when Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny rolls into theaters on June 30, 2023.