Disney CEO Bob Iger Probably Didn’t Mean To Call INDIANA JONES 5 A Reboot

The following exchange comes from The Hollywood Reporter's sprawling new interview with Disney CEO Bob Iger. Read it in full before we start parsing it out.

You have another Lucasfilm property, Indiana Jones, and Steven Spielberg has agreed to make a fifth film. Will there be an Indiana Jones universe, eventually, like Star Wars?

Iger: Not like Star Wars, no. But we hope…right now, we're focused on a reboot, or a continuum and then a reboot of some sort.

Reboot? You've got Harrison Ford for this movie, and then the presumption is there will be a younger …

Iger: Well, we'll bring him back, then we have to figure out what comes next. That's what I mean. It's not really a reboot, it's a boot — a reboot. I don't know.

THR has been using the term "requel" for these sequels that reboot the franchise.

Iger: Requel. (Laughs.) We (got) Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in the film. But then what's the direction? I've had discussions about what the direction is, (but) I don't want to get into it.

But you do see making more films?

Iger: Yes, I do. I don't think it reaches the scale of the universe of Star Wars, but I see making more. It won't be just a one-off.

OK, so...let's parse that out.

I'm able to follow him up to a point. Iger uses the term "reboot", and right now a bunch of people have jumped on his use of the term here. Traditionally-speaking, a reboot would involve recasting a film's major roles (in this case, Indiana Jones), and we know that's not true: as has been confirmed before - and as Iger himself confirms again here - Harrison Ford is definitely onboard for another Indiana Jones. The role will not be recast.

Let's continue to parse: this talk about a "continuum and then a reboot" and "figuring out what comes next" - chances are, what Iger's saying here is, "We know we've got Harrison Ford locked in for one more Indiana Jones, but after that it's anyone's guess. Maybe he'll be back, maybe he'll be back in a limited capacity, maybe he won't be back at all." Whatever happens, Iger goes on to say that they are planning to make more Indiana Jones movies.

As for the use of the word "requel", well, even I'm not sure what that would involve in this context. I don't think Iger knows, either, which is why I think he's quoted as laughing at the word. And, y'know, good for him. "Requel" is a stupid term, and while it may serve as useful shorthand in a few highly specific circumstances, it only serves to confuse situations like the one above. It also confuses fans, who are now over on Twitter wondering what the hell that might mean for this franchise.

Bottom line: a lot of words were used in the creation of this exchange, but nothing's really been said. Indiana Jones 5 is still happening. Harrison Ford's still onboard. No one knows what'll happen after that. 

Carry on.