Source: Collider | Posted By: Dan Geer

Ever since Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull came and went back in 2008, some Indy fans felt that it lacked that certain spark that the original three had, and hoped that George Lucas and Steven Spielberg would not make another. Others, like myself, rather liked the fourth installment, but felt that they could have done better, and maybe could do so if given one more chance. After all, it was the odd numbered Indiana Jones films that were the best.

We’ve been offered a number of updates in the last four years on a possible Indiana Jones 5, but nothing concrete. It was reported in 2010 that Harrison Ford said that he, Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas had sort of agreed on a “germ of an idea” and that they were going to see what comes of it.  The latest update came last December, where Lucas had said that he had told Spielberg about the story idea and its genre, but that he still did not have the MacGuffin (the plot device that drives the story, such as the Ark of the Covenant).

Now, Indiana Jones producer Frank Marshall has given the latest update, basically shooting down the possibility of a fifth installment. Hit the jump to read what he had to say.

Collider interviewed Frank Marshall, asking him if he thought it was realistic to expect a fifth film, to which he replied:

“I say, for me, [Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is] the last hurrah.  I know that yes, we talk about it, but there’s no idea, there’s no MacGuffin.”

This past May, George Lucas announced that he was officially retiring from Lucasfilm, passing the torch to Indy producer Kathleen Kennedy, so that he can go on to make little experimental movies in his “garage.” This, of course, raises the question if he is even interested in making another Indy film at this point. Frank Marshall had this to say on the matter:

“Yeah, no he isn’t [hungry to do another Indiana Jones].  And he’s obviously passing the baton to my wife, so.”

To be honest, while I would personally welcome a fifth installment if it was done right, Crystal Skull did seem to wrap up the character arcs nicely, even if the film as a whole was lacking. It makes sense that it was the last one. This doesn’t mean a fifth Indiana Jones film is dead, but it is not looking very promising at this point.