Natalie Portman Rumored for Juicy Role in Indy 4

Now that Indiana Jones 4 is officially a go, the rumors are flying fast and furious. Some facts are known - like Harrison Ford's reprisal of the only role to fully eclipse his spot in the original Star Wars.

Some rumors can be safely discounted as wishful thinking. But when it comes to casting, Hollywood is watching closely and things are growing more intense over the past few weeks. The Internet Movie Database (IMDb.com) lists a rumored cast to include Indy alumni Karen Allen (Marion Ravenwood of Raiders of the Lost Ark;) John Rhys-Davies (Sallah in all three of the original films;) and Sean Connery (Jones's father in the third installment.) IMDb also lists Natalie Portman among the rumored cast members, giving enough credence to the idea to have fans salivating at the prospect.

Despite critics' pans of the Star Wars trilogy, Natalie Portman remains a fan favorite. Portman's new job as the daughter of Indiana Jones, if it indeed turns out to be true, could be the casting coup of the decade.

Status Go

The much-anticipated Indy sequel is set in the 1950's, with an older Dr. Jones. And yes, this one reportedly will be a true sequel, rather than a "prequel," a concept introduced with the Indy series. Producer Frank Marshall said moving Indy 4 ahead to the era of the hula hoop and television would allow Harrison Ford's character to age with the actor. Marshall declined to identify any other specifics to the storyline, other than to say that they'd be filming all over the world.

In previous interviews, Connery remarked that his participation was dependent on the script. This script has passed muster with Spielberg, Lucas and Ford -- not exactly lightweights, themselves.

As with Natalie Portman, Connery's name appears on the IMDb page as rumored only. The rumor list also includes Shia LeBouf, of Even Stevens fame, who may also play a Jones offspring.

Don't Fear The Sequel

All those involved with the making of Indy 4 know the risks of reviving such a beloved series. Just ask executive producer George Lucas, who experienced first-hand what can happen when he revived the Star Wars story lines. Lucas pointed out that no matter what the creative team does with Indy 4, somebody's going to complain. Longtime fans will pick apart the new production and expound on any flaws or detours from the originals.

For the record, Lucas said the crew's focus on Indy 4 is making the best movie they can make, and having a good time along the way. Lucas is teamed up once more with director Steven Spielberg for the project. Harrison Ford's participation is set, as well.

Can lightning strike again? Perhaps so, in the Indiana Jones world of high adventure.

Multiple Sources Drop Portman's Name

Shoutwire credits Raiders co-star Karen Allen with spilling the beans about Natalie Portman. Allen reportedly let slip during a screening of Raiders of the Lost Ark, a quick aside mentioning that Portman would do a turn as Indy's daughter.

But was Allen's comment a legitimate leak, or just another calculated misdirection? That's a tough call. In an earlier outing, Ford had "let slip" a working title for the Indy 4 release. It just didn't happen to be the actual working title, something that his bosses chalked up to a puckish sense of humor. IESB.net reported that Portman specifically sought a role in the new Indy film. Other sites have commented that while the typical rumor of Indy offspring drew prompt and adamant denials, the only answers to rumors of Natalie Portman's involvement are silence. That's not exactly confirmation. Neither can it be automatically discounted, either.

Timeline, Whipping It Out, And More Speculation

With Indy 4 scheduled to film this year and a tentative release date of May 22, 2008, fans are clinging to any tidbits that slip through the web of secrecy. Despite the twenty-year hiatus, and despite the fact that the lead actor is now 64 years old, this film is wanted.

Ironically, a safety issue nearly sidelined the production. Ford reportedly threatened to walk away from the project unless he could again carry and use his trademark bullwhip. Since the original series wrapped, new safety rules require that the real whip be replaced with a computer-generated animation. Ford decried the restriction, saying he'd use the real whip or the deal was off. Despite the much-reported whip debate, there was no report of Ford walking off the set, nor of his accession to the rules. There's no way for the average moviegoer to ascertain whether it was a legitimate dispute or just another publicity stunt.

During a session at USC's film school, director Steven Spielberg mentioned the possibility that Lucas wanted to see the film released simultaneously in 3D. Real or calculated deflection, the comment drew attention. In much the same way, rumors of Natalie Portman will keep Indy 4 at the fringe of consciousness while it's still in pre-production stages.

Give Me A MacGuffin And A Diet Coke, Please

A MacGuffin is film-speak for a prop that drives the characters but otherwise doesn't have much relevance to the story. In Raiders of the Lost Ark, the MacGuffin was the Ark. In the third film, it was the Holy Grail. The MacGuffin in Indy 4 is anybody's guess. Apparently the latest supernatural object underwent some script trimming before it got thumbs up. Lucas discussed the element in abstract, saying that they'd had to trim away the offensive references to this MacGuffin.

The Indy series is more MacGuffin oriented than other movies, though. With the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail already addressed, two of the most widely-revered religious icons are already out of the picture. It's no small challenge to find a new prop device to pack that kind of religious and emotional punch.