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)
Indiana Jones fans the world over turned their noses up at Mangold’s film, failing to connect with the movie’s deconstruction of one of the greatest action heroes of all time. In the movie, Harrison Ford plays Dr. Jones 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.
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)
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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. ©.
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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.
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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!
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Remember when Mangold lied when the plot leaked and people figured out that Indie is being replaced? Yeah. He’s a slimy Hollywood creature.
Does anyone need a plot leaked anymore? Can’t we “assume” at this point, without the the negative response always thrown out in response to assume. The only reason this tool is even in this position as a “director” is due to the horrible k. kennedy hiring only “him” and his dreck?
Capitalism requires the will of the people to be accepted by the marketplace. Marxism does not. With Marxism, the people in power just make demands and everyone else is forced to obey. No surprise that people like this want Marxism where those who disagree can be silenced or worse.
Oh James Womangold… tsk tsk.
What fans? The movie wasn’t made to appeal to fans of Indiana Jones. It was made to appeal to the mythical “modern audience.” Never let these people forget that. Every time they blame “the fans” for their failures, they need to be reminded that they didn’t appeal to fans.
It was aimed squarely at no one at all.
Dude movie made by queerdo’s. Dudes won’t want ch and neither will qeerdo’s.
Hollywood makes inferior product, fans reject product, director blames fans, Hollywood makes inferior product, fans reject product, director blames fans, and repeat…
I could believe him when he says that because that the hero is 80 years old, they gotta pass the baton to a younger hero, but c’mon…Phoebe Waller-Bridge? Who are you trying to kid?
The other answer no one wants to hear is accepting that the Indiana Jones saga happened, put it on the shelf, go out, pound the pavement looking for a brand new script for brand new franchise, and cast it without regard for clown-world demands for diversity and inclusion.
Meanwhile I’ll be watching my old collection of films and supporting the rare gem of new stuff that comes out.
You can’t destroy what is already destroyed and decayed. Star Wars is over, do whatever you want. It won’t change a thing, because the leftist already ruined it many years ago.
And like all the rest of the wokies in charge, he’s seemingly failed upwards right into directing a new Star Wars movie that won’t ever come out.
Let’s take everything geared towards boys/ men and make it about chicks. What about female properties then? We’ll leave them alone. Boys get nothing.
Women
F you! Next time make an Indiana Jones movie about Indiana Jones. If this chick is so important, make a movie completely about her. He sounds like a tapeworm bitching about what the host eats.