Six Indiana Jones 4 Movie Titles Registered with the MPAA
One of our scoopers just sent us the latest Motion Pictures Association of America Title Registration Report. Lucasfilm, Ltd has filed for six different titles for Indiana Jones 4. The proposed titles include:
- Indiana Jones and the City of Gods
- Indiana Jones and the Destroyer of Worlds
- Indiana Jones and the Fourth Corner of the Earth
- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
- Indiana Jones and the Lost City of Gold
- Indiana Jones and the Quest for the Covenant
City of Gods has been long rumored to be the working title of the production. It also seems to be the best candidate of the bunch Destroyer of Worlds, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and Fourth Corner of the Earth are way to corny for me. But hey, George Lucas was the same guy who named a movie Attack of the Clones and The Phantom Menace, so you never know.
It’s also worth noting that Paramount TV registered “Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Death” in 1983. I wonder what they were planning?
According to the MPAA title report, the titles listed will be clear for registrants’ use by the close of business day Aug 24, 2007 if no protests have been lodged against them. I’ve never seen a report like this before, and find the process interesting. For example: Columbia Pictures is protesting Disney’s John Carter Of Mars title on the basis of their upcoming release John Hancock. Most of the entries on the protested titles section are like this. Usually one word in the title is the same of another project. Makes me wonder if any of these people win these seemingly unfounded title protests.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Update: We have now added the official film logo, as seen above.
Shia LaBeouf revealed the official title for Indiana Jones 4 during the MTV Video Music Awards: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. As you may remember, the title was one of six we reported last month when LucasFilm registered a batch of titles with the MPAA. The original working title for the project was Indiana Jones and the City of Gods.
So what does this mean? Don’t read any further if you don’t want to be exposed to possible plot spoilers.
According to Wikipedia:
A modern legend claims that there are 13 crystal skulls worldwide, of which five have actually been found, which have mystical powers and are of ancient origin. Such claims remain unproven. New skulls carved from crystal are made and sold regularly.
People who believe in the psychic power of crystal skulls say that the skulls are a center of radiant psychic energy and have the power to increase happiness and improve people’s lives just by being held, handled and spoken with; others have suggested that crystal skulls can be used like crystal balls, to aid divination.
The healing and supernatural powers of crystal skulls have never been scientifically established. The scientific community at large has found no evidence of any unusual phenomena associated with the skulls nor any reason for further investigation.
According to IESB:
The crystal skulls turn out to be alien skulls, underneath a Mayan or Aztec pyramid that takes off and thus reveals itself to be a mothership of sorts.
Which theory is true? I have no idea. Could the film be about something else entirely? Possibly, but one thing’s for sure - it will have crystal skulls. So what do I think of the new title? Well, it’s no Raiders of the Lost Ark or Last Crusade. It seems more in tune with the Temple of Doom, which could be extremely troubling. And talk of supernatural alien skulls and pyramids that turn into UFOs, don’t help my expectations. Please, please, I hope this movie will be good.
Crystal Skulls have been used in movies, televisions shows and video games for years, including: Stargate SG-1, House 2, The Librarian: Return to King Solomon’s Mines, The Phantom, Persona 2: Innocent Sin, Devil May Cry 3, Shadow Hearts: From the New World, M.A.S.K., The Tick, Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Jack Sparrow, Veritas: The Quest, and Nancy Drew: Legend of the Crystal Skull.
Ray Winstone cast in Indiana Jones 4
Ray Winstone has been cast in Indiana Jones 4 (most likely to be called Indiana Jones and the City of Gods). Winstone (seen above in The Departed) will play Harrison Ford’s sidekick.
I wonder if this means the rumors of Shia LaBeouf playing Indy’s son (and sidekick) were entirely untrue? Cate Blanchett is the only other actor on the project that has been publicly announced so far. Filming stars this Summer.
Indiana Jones 4 will hit theaters on May 22nd 2008.
Gong Li cast in Indiana Jones and the City of Gods?
The latest rumor has Gong Li considering an offer to star in Indiana Jones and the City of Gods.
The Taiwan United is reporting that Li “may play in a big-budget Hollywood film in June, which she’s now in negotiations [about].” And as far as we know, Indiana Jones 4 is the only big Hollywood movie starting production in June.
Ironically enough, the new Indiana Jones title, according to our friends at FilmIck, was also attached to an older script with a much different plot. I must admit, it’s very cool sounding title. Not what you would expect from a 21st century George Lucas (Attack of the Clones?).
ALSO, despite his public media denials, Shia Leboeuf is also supposedly confirmed for the film. But why would he be rocking the boat? Unless thats what he was told to do?
Let the rumors continue.