Since most of the world's cinematic viewing population shared a collective WTF when the final reel of Indiana Jones & The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull played out before their eyes, the speculation has been rife that a further adventure for the man in the hat was likely. After all, in spite of it being comfortably the worst film in the saga to date, Crystal Skull still made a staggering amount of money, more than any other Indiana Jones films, and it offered the kind of future payday that Messrs Ford, Spielberg and Lucas were unlikely to resist.

Considering that it took the best part of two decades to come up with the story for Crystal Skull, at least if you believe all the noises being made in the run-up to the film's release, it's something of a miracle therefore to hear Harrison Ford suggest that the story for Indy 5 is pretty much in place.

Talking to Le Figaro in France, Ford had this to say:

"The story for the new Indiana Jones is in the process of taking form. Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and myself are agreed on what the fifth adventure will concern, and George is actively at work. If the script is good, I'll be very happy to put the costume on again."

This is, to be fair, what appeared to be the case back in June, when Shia LaBeouf was quoted as saying with regard to Indy 5, "Steven [Spielberg] just said that he cracked the story on it, I think they're gearing that up." You can read that story here.

If the story is sorted, then you'd imagine the film still has a good year of screenwriting ahead of it if the last film is any guidance. But could it then go into production to join the crush of projects lining up for release in 2011? We suspect 2012 is more likely, but we'll bring you more news as we get it...

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