Harrison Ford to reprise iconic Indiana Jones role

[LOS ANGELES] Harrison Ford will reprise his iconic role as the adventurous archaeologist in a fifth installment of the Indiana Jones series, the Walt Disney Company announced on Tuesday.

It said Steven Spielberg, who directed all four previous films, will helm the as-yet-untitled project that will hit the big screen in 2019.

"Indiana Jones is one of the greatest heroes in cinematic history, and we can't wait to bring him back to the screen in 2019," Alan Horn, chairman of Walt Disney Studios, said in a statement.

"It's rare to have such a perfect combination of director, producers, actor and role, and we couldn't be more excited to embark on this adventure with Harrison and Steven."

Disney in 2013 took over rights to the Indiana Jones franchise from Paramount Films and since then reports have been swirling that a fifth instalment was in the works.

Indiana Jones burst onto the screen in 1981 with Raiders of the Lost Ark, followed by Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in 1984 and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade in 1989.

Ford, 73, and Spielberg reunited in 2008 for the fourth instalment in the series, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which got lukewarm reviews and reunited an ageing Jones with his Raiders love interest Karen Allen. The movie also introduced Shia LeBeouf as their son.

The franchise has grossed nearly US$2 billion worldwide.

AFP