Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny premiered on Thursday at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival in France, and it marked far more than just the release of another film: it was Harrison Ford’s goodbye as a figure who has frequently been voted the most iconic character in movie history.
And he felt every bit of it, it seems. As the crowd gave the customary standing ovation for the film, Ford got quite emotional taking it all in.
Additionally, Ford was surprised with an honorary Palme d’Or, the highest and most prestigious award given by the Cannes Film Festival. It’s a fitting and well-deserved honor for one of the biggest stars in Hollywood history. Throughout his career, the 80-year-old Ford has starred in iconic franchises like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Blade Runner, among dozens of other projects. But it’s his roles as Han Solo and Indiana Jones that he’ll be most remembered for, and it’s great to see him putting on the fedora one last time.
This will be his fifth time playing the character, and it’s also been pretty clearly stated by all that this will be his last. It marks the end of a magnificent era, saying goodbye to the beloved Dr. Jones. It’s a character that has been loved by audiences, but also by Ford himself. Though he hasn’t always been the most enthusiastic about all of his roles, playing Indy is one that he’s always seemed to delight in and really enjoy.
“I’d always wanted a final chapter in the story,” the actor told The Hollywood Reporter. “We first started thinking about it quite a few years ago. My ambition — all of our ambition — was to come up with a story that dealt with the reality of his age because he was such a physical character. I wanted to see him diminished and revivified by whatever the storyline was and by whoever the characters were. And when we got the story that felt right to everybody, then we went ahead.”
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will release in theaters on June 30, 2023.
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