Clint Eastwood Helped Steven Spielberg Land $1.9B Indiana Jones Franchise After Greedy Producer Betrayed George Lucas Only to Get Fired Later

George Lucas’ Indiana Jones franchise has been a part of many childhoods and soon we will get to see Harrison Ford play Indy for the last time in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. With the end of an era inching closer and closer, it’s important to note how it all began and how Steven Spielberg got to serve as a director on the first four films.

Would you believe it if we say that Steven Spielberg was not George Lucas’ first choice when it came to directing Indiana Jones? Well, it’s true. George Lucas had his sight set on a producer for the task. However, things didn’t exactly go according to his plan as an intervention by Clint Eastwood turned things around for the franchise.

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How Steven Spielberg Got to Direct George Lucas’ Indiana Jones

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Raiders of the Lost Ark was released in 1981 when the world first saw Harrison Ford don Indiana Jones’ fedora. However, if things had gone according to George Lucas, the film would have been released a while back. The hindrance to the film’s release was caused by filmmaker Clint Eastwood, albeit unknowingly.

In The Making of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Lucas stated that he discussed his idea for the franchise with producer Phil Kaufman who was absolutely on board. They had discussions and began developing the film. Kaufman was also responsible for the use of the Ark of the Covenant.

Unexpectedly, Kaufman decided to leave Raiders of the Lost Ark to work on a film with Eastwood (The Outlaw Josey Wales). This betrayal eventually caused a delay in Raiders of the Lost Ark as Lucas wanted Kaufman to direct the film. However, after patiently waiting for a while, Lucas moved on to Steven Spielberg who went on to direct four films for the franchise. As for Kaufman, things did not work in his favor as he ended up getting fired from Eastwood’s movie. Tough luck!

So, in a way, Eastwood played quite an important role in Spielberg directing a franchise that has made $1.9 billion at the box office. Unfortunately, the filmmaker won’t be reprising his role in Dial of Destiny. But there is nothing to worry about as Spielberg seems to be a fan of the film!

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Steven Spielberg is Impressed by Dial of Destiny

If you are a fan of the franchise and are worried about how it’ll do without its OG director then let us stop you right there. Spielberg had the opportunity to attend a screening of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and he was more than impressed.

At the Time 100 Summit, Spielberg stated,

“Bob Iger had a screening for a lot of the Disney executives, and I came to the screening along with the director, James Mangold. Everybody loved the movie. It’s really, really a good Indiana Jones film. I’m really proud of what Jim has done with it. When the lights came up I just turned to the group and said, ‘Damn! I thought I was the only one who knew how to make one of these.’”

It looks like James Mangold had managed to knock Spielberg’s socks off with this one and in just a few days, you will be able to judge the film yourself!

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny releases in theatres on June 30, 2023.

Source: The Making of Raiders of the Lost Ark