George Lucas Talks Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull!

George Lucas has Indiana Jones on his mind.

In a recent interview with TV Guide, the celebrated filmmaker discussed regional filmmaking, using the medium to fight authority and Sean Connery not returning as Professor Henry Jones in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Here's what he had to say about that subject...

Was he upset about Sean Connery's decision not to return?

"No, in the end, it turned out better." Lucas states. "In the beginning, he was just in a little bit of it, and I think with the strength of Sean Connery, people would've wanted him to go all the way through the whole thing, and the story really didn't work that way. And so I think there would've been some disappointment that [his character] dropped out partway through the movie. By having somebody else fill that role, you lose him without any regret, so to speak, even though we got a great actor to play the part. And I mean, he's not his father, so it's much easier...."

Apparently, this is a whole new character and not Indiana Jones' father.

"That's right. It's just a completely different character, so you're not invested in him in any way. The fact that that character, after the first part of the movie, isn't needed doesn't become a problem. Whereas I think with the scene we had, where [Indy] says goodbye to his dad, everybody was, 'Wait a minute! Isn't he coming back?' So in the end, I think it turned out for the best. Sean just retired and he wants to stay retired, and I understand that. [Laughs] I think he just said, 'Look, I've done it, I've done it.' He was very tempted, you know, and we talked for a long time. But in the end, he just said, 'Eh, I'm playing golf.'"

Lastly, did Lucas feel the need to correct any of the "internet buzz" that might have been wrong or misrepresented the fourth Indiana Jones film?

"Well, I don't really read the Internet buzz." Lucas said.