2519 replies to this topic

[Harmsway]

Here's the basic INDY IV timeline, as far as we know it:

The earliest draft we know about was by Jeb Stuart/George Lucas in 1995. He turned in a draft, called INDIANA JONES AND THE SAUCER MEN FROM MARS. It's available online, and it's a horrid mess of a script, but it did have the alien angle (as the title indicates). It's clearly something Lucas was interested in from an early point. We can see its influence in the final product.

The next script we know about (but only loosely) is the Boam draft. The Jeffery Boam script apparently had to do with the Garden of Eden. He was writing it in 95-96, and about that time, Spielberg commented the storyline had to do with that, and a minister/theologian was also consulted on the topic.

In '98 Lucas said they had a script that he was happy with. We don't know precisely what it was, but given the way Lucas talks about INDY IV history, it seems this is where the crystal skull was brought into play as a story element. Apparently Spielberg and Ford were not initially satisfied with how the relic played out, but that was the beginning of the real forward motion on the project, though.

After debating INDY IV's story for a while, Ford and Spielberg eventually agreed to go ahead with the crystal skull concept. In 2002, they brought on Darabont to bring it to life. This was the storyline that ultimately produced Darabont's draft, INDIANA JONES AND THE CITY OF THE GODS.

Jeff Nathanson then did a draft of INDY IV, based on Darabont's work, and then it was handed over to David Koepp, who has now turned in the final draft of INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL.

[zencat]

There's an amazing article somewhere online called Radiers of the Lost Drafts (or something like this) that goes into the development of all the scripts and Indy IV in great detail. Might be on theRaider.net.

[Harmsway]

There's an amazing article somewhere online called Radiers of the Lost Drafts (or something like this) that goes into the development of all the scripts and Indy IV in great detail. Might be on theRaider.net.

It does go into the scripts (and here's the link), but as far as INDY IV is concerned, it's pretty scarce, covering only the woefully awful SAUCER MEN script (it's the only one we've got). Otherwise, it's mighty informative regarding the scripts for the original trilogy.

http://www.theraider...t_drafts_01.php

[marktmurphy]

Wasn't there one to with a Monkey King or something?

[Mr Teddy Bear]

Wasn't there one to with a Monkey King or something?

I believe that was a discarded script for Indy 3 rather than Indy 4.

[Harmsway]

Wasn't there one to with a Monkey King or something?

I believe that was a discarded script for Indy 3 rather than Indy 4.

Yup. Though it's continually passed off as an INDY IV script.

[JimmyBond]

Just curious Harmsway, what do you have against the 'Saucer Men' script? I read it last year and thought it was quite interesting, I especially thought the opening sequence was pretty entertaining.

[JimmyBond]

I hope the movie isnt about a crystal skull,

Better get used to it then. That's what Indy is going after.

[Harmsway]

Just curious Harmsway, what do you have against the 'Saucer Men' script? I read it last year and thought it was quite interesting, I especially thought the opening sequence was pretty entertaining.

I think it's a cornball, sappy, forgettable conclusion to a franchise, lacking in that Indiana Jones-ness that a final adventure needs. It doesn't even feel like it's part of the same franchise, and is seriously lacking in the dialogue and humor department. It's like all the worst aspects of LAST CRUSADE, but taken to the max.

[JimmyBond]

At least it's not as bad as the Monkey King script

[Harmsway]

Yeah, the MONKEY KING script is pretty darn bad.

[DaveBond21]

Thanks for the info. I remembered hearing Spielberg talking about a 4th Indy movie back in 1995, which you've confirmed is a possibility.


I wouldn't mind a movie about a Monkey King.

[Harmsway]

Thanks for the info. I remembered hearing Spielberg talking about a 4th Indy movie back in 1995, which you've confirmed is a possibility.

Yeah, he made a few comments about it. INDY IV has been on the radar in one form or another for over a decade.

I wouldn't mind a movie about a Monkey King.

The actual artifact itself (the tomb of the legendary Monkey King, with its garden of peaches that grant immortality) isn't so bad. The Chris Columbus script INDIANA JONES AND THE MONKEY KING aka INDIANA JONES AND THE GARDEN OF LIFE, though, is pretty awful. It has some nice things about it (it has an AFRICAN QUEEN vibe going on for a little bit), but quickly descends into ludicrosity.

[gkgyver]

Yeah, he made a few comments about it. INDY IV has been on the radar in one form or another for over a decade.

So has Superman Returns. And that didn't turn out too well.

[Harmsway]

Yeah, he made a few comments about it. INDY IV has been on the radar in one form or another for over a decade.

So has Superman Returns. And that didn't turn out too well.

I don't see how that's particularly relevant.

But personally, I love SUPERMAN RETURNS. For what it's worth, it turned out a thousand times better than all the other suggested Superman films that were bounced around before it. If SUPERMAN RETURNS was mediocre (and I don't think it was), then the other versions were disasters.

[JimmyBond]

For anyone who's curious here's a small summary of the plot (though not many spoilers, I promise, as this is probably less than you'd find on the back of a movie box:

Spoiler

The overall plot consists of the Crystal Skulls and The Lost City of Gold. A Colleaue of Indy's is an expert of both, and at one time he was looking for The Lost City, and apparently found it but apparently also went insane. The Crystall Skulls (all 13 of them) are real artifacts, complete with the power to unlock ESP -- the ability to read and control one's thoughts. Much like the Nazis wanted the Ark and the Holy Grail to dominate the world, the Russians want the Crystal Skulls to have the ultimate power over anyone, for if you can control their minds, you can control them completely.

If you're wondering, no I don't have the script. A fellow poster from another message board has read the script overview and that's where I got the info from.

[Harmsway]

If that's true, then there are some interesting things about INDY IV. JimmyBond, do you personally consider this guy trustworthy, or are you a little unsure about him?

Spoiler

Lost City of Gold? Hmm. NATIONAL TREASURE 2 is all about that, so there's going to be two big "adventure" films centered around the same thing.

It was also stated on IESB.net (which has been pretty good with their Indy scoops thus far), that the big pyramid that the Russians and Indy end up at is a spaceship of sorts, and actually takes off. Sounds a little like STARGATE to me.

[Qwerty]

Wasn't there one to with a Monkey King or something?

Definitely hadn't heard about that one before.

[Royal Dalton]

That was the Chris Columbus script.

[JimmyBond]

If that's true, then there are some interesting things about INDY IV. JimmyBond, do you personally consider this guy trustworthy, or are you a little unsure about him?

Spoiler

Lost City of Gold? Hmm. NATIONAL TREASURE 2 is all about that, so there's going to be two big "adventure" films centered around the same thing.

It was also stated on IESB.net (which has been pretty good with their Indy scoops thus far), that the big pyramid that the Russians and Indy end up at is a spaceship of sorts, and actually takes off. Sounds a little like STARGATE to me.

Yeah, What it was he got a hold of was actually a summary for marketing people, so they could start coming up with ways to sell the movie. And he did reveal the ending, and it's exactly what you just said, so yeah, I think that confirms that he got ahold of the genuine article.

[DLibrasnow]

Wasn't there one to with a Monkey King or something?

Definitely hadn't heard about that one before.

Little off topic but wasn't there an Indy influenced television show in the early 1980s called "Tales of the Golden Monkey" or something. I think it starred Stephen Collins.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Wasn't there one to with a Monkey King or something?

Definitely hadn't heard about that one before.

Little off topic but wasn't there an Indy influenced television show in the early 1980s called "Tales of the Golden Monkey" or something. I think it starred Stephen Collins.

Yep, sounds familiar to me. Around the same time there was also BRING 'EM BACK ALIVE with Bruce Boxleitner.

[Loomis]

Bruce Boxleitner. Now there's a name I haven't heard in a while.

[Royal Dalton]

I loved 'Tales of the Gold Monkey' and 'Bring 'Em Back Alive' as a kid.

It'd be great if they released them on DVD, to cash-in on Indy 4.

[Gobi-1]

I've spent this weekend working on this so I hope you enjoy it. My first Indiana Jones fan trailer. Thomas Weldek's style of editing was a major influence on this one.

Indiana Jones Epic Trailer

You Tube


MegaUpload
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=AWCABJZX

[Harmsway]

Some new stuff.

Lucas comments on Connery's absence in INDY IV and comments on Henry Sr.'s planned role in the film.

http://www.tvguide.com/news
[box]TV Guide: Speaking of friends working together... you and Steven Spielberg

[Agent Spriggan Ominae]

Here's a scoop on one of the action set pieces that I got from a friend who works for one of the local production companies that were hired for the shoot on the Big Island. I trust him so I would take this to the bank. I thought it sounded pretty intense. Beware POTENTIAL SPOILERS!!!!

Spoiler

He told me that they filmed a massive action sequence involving a convoy of soviet vehicles including tanks. The twist this time is that instead of moving cannons these tanks are basically tree mulchers on treads. He said they spent alot of time shredding and destroying various milltary vehicles. And in typical Indy fashion there is a fight between Indy and a soviet baddie that winds up ontop one of the "giant lawmowers" and dagerously close to the rotating blades. It's apparently the biggest action sequence in the film and is going to be along the lines of the truck chse from Raiders and the tank from Last Crusade.

[Harmsway]

I've seen pictures of the vehicles you mention. They're pretty nasty-looking.

[Agent Spriggan Ominae]

I've seen pictures of the vehicles you mention. They're pretty nasty-looking.

Ooooo! Where can they be found?

[Harmsway]

I've seen pictures of the vehicles you mention. They're pretty nasty-looking.

Ooooo! Where can they be found?