Phoebe Waller-Bridge to play the female 'Indiana Jones'

Phoebe could take over the title role after playing a part in the upcoming fifth film ( Image: Getty Images)

Phoebe Waller-Bridge could be trading in her Fleabag for a hat and stepping into Harrison Ford's shoes as Indiana Jones.

The 36-year-old actress and screenwriter are now filming the fifth installment of the Indiana Jones film franchise alongside 79-year-old screen legend Harrison.

According to speculations, the British actress may reprise her role as the franchise's eponymous character in future installments.

There are no plot specifics for the new picture, a sequel to 2008's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, but it is rumored that Phoebe would play the main character's assistant.

“Phoebe is being tipped to replace [Harrison Ford] as a female version of the fictional professor of archaeology in the adventure movie franchise,” according to the Mail On Sunday.

“The gossip on the set is that this character will slot into the leading role,” a film source told the publication.

Kathleen Kennedy, the President of Lucasfilm Ltd, the studio behind the Indiana Jones films, also desires to make "big, bold" changes to the franchise.

The rumors have been confirmed by an industry insider, who stated, "It would be a huge statement and a great role for Phoebe."

Fans have observed Phoebe in character, dressed in a maroon corduroy jacket, blue trousers, a hat, and large circular sunglasses, on the film's set, which is partially shot in Glasgow.

In 1981, Harrison debuted as Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark, the series' first feature.

The film series is set during the 1930s and 1950s and chronicles the adventures of Dr. Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones, Jr., a fictional professor of archaeology.

In 1989, Sean Connery was cast as Harrison's on-screen father, Henry Jones, Sr., and Cate Blanchett was cast as the malicious Soviet agent Irina Spalko in the 2008 picture.

In the fourth film, Shia LaBeouf was introduced as Indiana's sidekick and son, Mutt Williams, despite previous rumors that the movie will focus on Shia's character.

However, the 35-year-old isn't thought to have returned for the fifth installment, and film series creator George Lucas previously stated in a 2008 interview: "Indiana Jones is Indiana Jones." Harrison Ford plays Indiana Jones... It would be called ‘Mutt Williams and the Search for Elvis' or something if it was Mutt Williams.”

Meanwhile, Phoebe has been hired to rewrite the script for the upcoming James Bond film No Time To Die to give the characters a fresh perspective.

The long-awaited picture, set to hit theaters at the end of the month, is expected to star British actress Lashana Lynch as Nomi, who will take James' place as MI6's 007 agents.

However, in Hollywood, replacing male characters with female counterparts is becoming a weary stereotype.

Ghostbusters was revived as a female-focused comedy in 2016. However, the film was critically derided and bombed at the box office.

Two years later, Ocean's 11 was reinvented as Ocean's 8, a female-led film that received mixed reviews and underperformed at the box office.

Publish : 2021-09-12 11:49:00

Give Your Comments