Mads Mikkelsen Talks Indiana Jones 5 Script, Says It's "Everything I Wished It To Be"

Actor Mads Mikkelsen will star in the new Indiana Jones movie alongside Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The film's plot remains a mystery, but Mikkelsen has now provided a tease about what he knows. Speaking to Collider, the Hannibal and James Bond actor said he's fortunate to have been given early access to the script, and his verdict is that "it was everything I wished it to be."

"I'm very, very excited about it… I rewatched Raiders of the Lost Ark the other day, it is so well-done and so charming, and it's such great storytelling," he said. "So yes it's a great honor to be part of that franchise that I grew up with… I'm in a lucky position where they let me read the script before. And yes, it was everything I wished it to be, so that was just great."

Also in the interview, Mikkelsen said he has some element of freedom when it comes to shaping his character in Indiana Jones 5. Whereas Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones is usually the "straight man," it seems Mikkelsen might play someone who has a more unique background and sensibilities.

"I do think I'm invited in to create a character, I think that everybody wants that. That's why they pick certain actors that they think can come up with certain things, and it will be a collaboration as it always is," he said. "Interesting enough, again a little like Riders of Justice, there is kind of a genre mix in Indiana Jones always. There is something that is a little larger-than-life, almost back to the 30s with a Peter Lorre kind of feel, and then you have Indiana Jones who kind of is a straight man. But he does produce a lot of funny and interesting things, but there are different character genres in some of those films."

Officially, Mikkelsen's role in Indiana Jones 5 is unknown at this stage. We do, however, know that Waller-Bridge will play the female lead.

Indiana Jones 5 will be directed by James Mangold (Logan) and hits theaters on July 29, 2022. Steven Spielberg, who directed all the previous films, stepped down, with Mangold taking over in May 2020. John Williams is coming back to write the music.

Mikkelsen starred in the Oscar-winning Danish movie Another Round, which is now being made in English with Leonardo DiCaprio set to star. Mikkelsen is also lined up to appear in the next Fantastic Beasts movie as the evil wizard Grindelwald, taking over for Johnny Depp.