Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny director James Mangold has blamed the failure of his big budget film on the fans in a recent interview, completely ignoring and dismissing all valid criticism of the Phoebe Waller-Bridge led film that also featured Harrison Ford.
CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 18: (L-R) James Mangold, Harrison Ford, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge attend “Indiana Jones and The Dial Of Destiny” photocall at Carlton Pier on May 18, 2023 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Disney)
That’s not to be confused with Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens when Ford played Han Solo as a broken old man awash in misery until a snarky brunette female with a British accent comes into his life to show him how inadequate he is.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: Phoebe Waller-Bridge attends the Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny presentation during the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Disney)
But according to Mangold, who by the way is slated to helm a big budget Star Wars project in the near future, the film didn’t bomb because of the script or the characters. It certainly had nothing to do with his creative vision or the numerous reshoots that he attacked fans over, claiming falsely that they never took place.
No, Indiana Jones director James Mangold instead places blame where it belongs.
With the fans. The paying customer. The audience of Indiana Jones fans.
“You have a wonderful, brilliant actor who’s in his eighties. So I’m making a movie about this guy in his eighties, but his audience on one other level doesn’t want to confront their hero at that age. And I am like, I’m good with it. We made the movie. But the question is, how would anything have made the audience happy with that, other than having to start over again with a new guy? And then here come lifelong heroes from my childhood into my life going, ‘We have something for you to work on.’ It was a joyous experience, but it hurt in the sense that I really love Harrison and I wanted audiences to love him as he was and to accept that that’s part of what the movie has to say—that things come to an end, that’s part of life.”
-James Mangold on Why Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny Failed
You see, apparently fans were unhappy because…Indiana Jones was old? And people didn’t want to see old people? Or something?
(L-R): Teddy (Ethann Isidore), Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) and Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) in Lucasfilm’s INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY. ©.
It might surprise Mangold and many of the higher ups at Lucasfilm, but many times human beings manage to reach their golden years without degenerating into sad sack pathetic wastes of space. Many people embrace their life as senior citizens and remain productive members of society who appreciate their lives without the intervention of a stunning and brave snarky British brunette.
The budget for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny reportedly ballooned to a massive $387.2 million after those aforementioned reshoots that Mangold claimed never happened.
Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) in Lucasfilm’s IJ5. ©2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
The film made $383,963,057 worldwide, which sounds like it came close to meeting its production budget. That is, until you remember that theaters get a cut of the box office take and Disney ran a massive promotional tour for what they were hoping was to be a new beginning for the aged Lucasfilm franchise (with Waller Bridge reportedly assuming the mantle from Ford).
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: James Mangold and Dave Filoni onstage during the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images for Disney)
Dial of Destiny is one of the biggest bombs and black marks in the history of Lucasfilm. And yet Lucasfilm is reportedly bringing Mangold back to direct a major Star Wars film in the near future. Time will tell who he’ll blame if that one ends up falling flat on its face.
We can only assume, though, he won’t be assuming any of the responsibility himself.
How do you feel about Indiana Jones Director James Mangold blaming the fans for his film bombing? What will he do with Star Wars? Sound off in the comment section and let us know!
