As the highly anticipated premiere of ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ approaches, the team behind Harrison Ford’s iconic character is eager to share their insights. Among them is director James Mangold, known for his work on ‘Logan,’ who faced the challenge of satisfying the audience, staying true to the character, and infusing the story with just the right amount of nostalgia.
In a recent interview with FilmSweep, Mangold delved into his approach not only to ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,’ but also to ‘Logan’ and his other projects. During the conversation, he expressed his view that a movie should be a journey of transformation, or what he called a “peripeteia.” According to Mangold, the main character should begin the story at one point and emerge at the other end evolved, transformed, or at the very least, improved. He elaborated:
“Every good story starts with the character needing to travel or grow. Many superhero films tend to begin and end with characters as gods, engaging in fights and tactical maneuvers without experiencing real change. It’s not a criticism of those movies, but personally, I wouldn’t know how to make a film like that. I need my characters to start somewhere and end up somewhere else.”
Mangold also praised the beauty of witnessing a character’s journey and cited the example of Logan, played by Hugh Jackman, in the acclaimed ‘X-Men’ film. He found it “moving” that Logan, a character who had never truly experienced peace, discovered love and a sense of grace in his final moments, even if it was just within the last 30 seconds of his life.
The director emphasized that his approach to Indiana Jones in his 70s shared similarities with Logan’s story. However, he acknowledged that an Indiana Jones film is ultimately an adventure and entertainment that requires elements of joy, humor, and eccentric characters. Mangold chose to emphasize the character’s contradictions to bring out the humor and portray the hero as a relatable human.
‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ is set to premiere in theaters on June 30. For the full interview with James Mangold, watch the video below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Character transformation
Q: When does ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ premiere?
A: ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ is set to premiere in theaters on June 30.
Q: Who is the director of ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’?
A: The director of ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ is James Mangold, known for his work on ‘Logan’ and other projects.
Q: How does James Mangold approach character development in his films?
A: James Mangold believes in the importance of character transformation. He wants his main characters to start the story at one point and come out evolved, transformed, or improved by the end.
Q: How does Mangold incorporate humor into ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’?
A: Mangold understands that an Indiana Jones film is an adventure and entertainment, so he focuses on the character’s contradictions to bring out the humor and make the hero relatable.
Q: What is the significance of character transformation in Mangold’s films?
A: Mangold finds it beautiful to witness a character’s journey and growth. He cites the example of Logan in the ‘X-Men’ film, where the character, who had never experienced peace, found love and grace in his final moments.
Q: What can we expect from ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’?
A: ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ promises to be an exciting adventure film with elements of nostalgia, humor, and eccentric characters. It aims to entertain audiences while staying true to the beloved Indiana Jones character.
More about Character transformation
- Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Official Trailer
- James Mangold IMDb
- Logan Official Trailer
- X-Men Official Website
2 comments
saw the interview with james mangold. he talked about character transformation in his films like logan. it’s so nice to see characters change and grow. hope indiana jones will have some humor and crazy characters too. looking forward to june 30th!
indiana jones is my favorite series. the director of the new movie is james mangold who also did logan which is a big hit. i like that he wants characters to evolve. can’t wait for the premiere!!!