June 25, 2007

Indiana Jones 4 Pic Shows A Bruised And Bloody Harrison Ford

By Shawn Adler (MTV.com)

"I'm like a bad penny," Indiana Jones said in The Last Crusade. "I always turn up."

Nearly 20 years later, the man with the hat is back, and he's turned up in our inboxes with this first picture from the set of Indiana Jones 4, courtesy of Lucasfilm.

A concession to the fact that it's been 18 years since the intrepid archaeologist's last great adventure, Indiana Jones 4 takes place in the 1950s, with a plot line that's rumored to center around alien visitors and Indy's search for fabled crystal skulls.

What's remarkable about the picture, however, isn't that star Harrison Ford shows his age (he does, a little. The scruff this time is white), but how natural he looks after such a long absence from the character. He's even gotten in a little scuffle already, as evidenced by the bruise on his face and blood on his pant leg.

What little is known about the plot has inspired more questions than it gives answers. Does Indy have a son? (Co-star Shia LaBeouf starts filming this week.) Will Raiders of the Lost Ark love interest Karen Allen return? If Allen comes back, does that make co-star Cate Blanchett the villain?

What we do know: The film, set for release May 22, 2008, co-stars LaBeouf, Blanchett, Ray Winstone, Jim Broadbent and John Hurt. It is currently shooting in New Mexico and moves to New Haven, Connecticut, next week.