Will Shia LaBeouf Be In 'Indiana Jones 5'?

The news that Indiana Jones 5 is not only happening, but that Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg are both attached to the project, has set the Internet alight. While no plot details about the sequel have been released yet, fans are curious if Shia LaBeouf's character, Indy's son Mutt Williams, will return for the new film. LaBeouf has been famously outspoken about his performance in Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull, provoking some stern words from Harrison Ford. So will Shia LaBeouf be in Indiana Jones 5 ?

The fact that Shia LaBeouf wasn't particularly happy with the movie or his work on it, and that Ford was publicly upset about the comments his on-screen son had made, make it highly likely that his character will be dropped from the sequel. Quoted by NME, LaBeouf's comments about the fourth Indiana Jones movie were kind of brutal, as the actor said, "I feel like I dropped the ball on the legacy that people loved and cherished... You get to monkey-swinging and things like that and you can blame it on the writer and you can blame it on Steven. But the actor's job is to make it come alive and make it work, and I couldn't do it. So that's my fault.”

While the Transformers actor places most of the blame firmly on himself, it seems likely that Harrison Ford was upset that LaBeouf slandered the Indiana Jones name at all. He responded, and didn't hold back, in an interview with Details, saying, "I think he was a f*cking idiot," in reference to Shia LaBeouf's comments about Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull. Understandably protective of the franchise he has helmed for decades, Ford wasn't prepared to let LaBeouf badmouth the director, the writers, or the film itself. While Shia LaBeouf is perfectly within his rights to critique his own performance, Ford likely took offence at him insinuating that the movie was bad.

However, there was an element of forgiveness in Ford's statement about LaBeouf, as he told Details, "As an actor, I think it's my obligation to support the film without making a complete ass of myself. Shia is ambitious, attentive, and talented — and he’s learning how to deal with a situation which is very unique and difficult." By making an allowance for LaBeouf's comments, has Harrison Ford left the door open for the return of Indiana Jones's son in the new movie?

We'll have to wait for further announcements about the new Indiana Jones movie to find out if Shia LaBeouf will be involved in it. While it currently seems unlikely that the actor will be back for the sequel, stranger things happen all the time, especially in the world of Shia LaBeouf.

Images: Paramount Pictures; Giphy