Upcoming Guy Ritchie Movie With John Krasinski & Natalie Portman Is A Better Alternative To Indiana Jones 6

Guy Ritchie's latest movie, the heist adventure Fountain of Youth, feels like a spiritual successor to the Indiana Jones franchise, and is actually a better alternative than a potential sixth installment of the Harrison Ford franchise. Fountain of Youth represents somewhat of a departure from the norm for Ritchie, who typically deals in gangster comedies and spy thrillers. Guy Ritchie's upcoming movie will be a family-friendly action-adventure movie, very much in the vein of the National Treasure or The Mummy franchises, and will star Hollywood A-listers John Krasinski and Natalie Portman.

While details are somewhat limited, a feature in Entertainment Weekly revealed some information about the general plot. In Fountian of Youth, Krasinski and Portman will play siblings Luke and Charlotte Purdue as they journey across the globe in search of the legendary fountain that grants eternal life to anyone who drinks from it. Ritchie's adventure movie definitely includes some echoes of past adventure franchises, as the Purdues have an archaeological background that drives their global endeavor. That will undoubtedly invite comparisons to Indiana Jones, and based on early looks, Fountain of Youth could be a worthy successor.

Fountain Of Youth Looks Like A Worthy Replacement For Indiana Jones

The Heist Adventure Movie Seems Like It Will Hit Many Of The Same Notes

First and foremost, Fountain of Youth looks like it will encapsulate the globe-hopping spirit of the very best Indiana Jones adventures. The movie's action will occur in vastly different locations; Ritchie mentioned having shot on-site in Egypt, Vienna, and Bangkok, among other locations. While the hunt for a mythological object is straight out of the Indiana Jones playbook, it's that ever-shifting, action-packed narrative that really makes Fountain of Youth a true spiritual successor to the storied franchise. It even shares Indiana Jones' family-friendly tone, to boot.

On top of the elements that it will share with the Indiana Jones movies, Fountain of Youth looks like a worthy successor due to the level of talent behind the movie. Guy Ritchie has directed box office and critical darlings during his career, many of which fit into the action-adventure mold of Fountain of Youth. The live-action adaptation of Aladdin and the Sherlock Holmes movies starring Robert Downey, Jr. are perfect examples of how his talents will translate well to this particular story, especially if he's armed with the talents of the Academy Award-winning Portman and SAG Award-winning Krasinski.

Indiana Jones & The Dial Of Destiny Makes The Franchise's Future More Difficult

The Box Office Return Makes A New Installment Unlikely

Fountain of Youth will be a necessary replacement for the Indiana Jones franchise, as it seems likely that franchise is all but finished. In addition to Harrison Ford's advancing age making it difficult to continue the overarching narrative of the iconic character, the latest installment was an unmitigated disaster for Disney. With a sky-high budget of nearly $300 million (as reported by Disney), the movie needed to gross roughly $600 million to break even after marketing costs were added in. It only grossed $384 million worldwide, making it one of the biggest flops of all time for Disney.

While the reviews for Dial of Destiny were on the better side of middling, it wasn't some excellent film that simply missed the audience at the theater. The franchise seems well and truly cooked without Harrison Ford in the mix, and a legacy or spin-off sequel feels like it could only further damage the legacy of the franchise and the character of Indiana Jones himself. Fountain of Youth could be the next great family action adventure movie, and if it's a success there is certainly franchise potential.

Source: Entertainment Weekly