By Chris Betros

Arts & Culture Jun. 12, 2008 - 06:37AM JST ( 4 )

TOKYO —

The question that everybody has been asking Harrison Ford, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg over the last few months is: “What took you so long?” They are, of course, referring to the 4th Indy Jones movie, “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” produced by Lucas, directed by Spielberg and starring Ford, reprising his signature role 19 years after the last adventure.

“We did the first three films because we planned three,” said Lucas, 64, during a visit to Japan this month with Ford, 65, co-star Karen Allen, 56, and co-producers Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy. Spielberg was supposed to come but pulled out to attend his daughter’s graduation. “We didn’t expect to continue, but the experience was so wonderful that it lingered for a few years. Then Harrison and I started talking about what kind of an object Indy could go after – because all movies have to have an object of his quest. Once we had that, Harrison was enthusiastic. Steven had a lot of input, and we all worked on the story because we were not going to do it until we had a great script. After that, it was a matter of getting our schedules lined up.”

Set in 1957 and 20 years after the last adventure, “Crystal Skull” sees the globe-trotting archeologist doing battle with a Soviet agent (Cate Blanchett) over crystal skulls and the legendary El Dorado. Jones acquires a sidekick (Shia LeBeouf) and runs into an old flame (Allen) along the way.

“I’m glad George and Steven persuaded me to do it because it’s a really good movie,” said Ford, looking much younger than his age. “I’ve made many different kinds of films and have had lots of opportunities due to my success from working with George and Steven. The thing that appeals to me most about this series is that they are made to give the audience an exciting ride. That’s a rare kind of beast in movies these days. That was my main motivation. Working with this team and the latest technology made me feel like a kid on Christmas morning. I got to play with a whole bunch of new toys.”

Lucas said it was very important that Ford played his age. “That’s why we set the film in the 1950s. We couldn’t pretend that he was a 30-year-old guy. I’m a big aficionado of the ’50s with rock ’n’ roll and the Cold War. There was so much happening. That’s when I grew up. At the same time, it was more fun to make a film with an older hero. That’s a different slant from other movies today.”

Any doubts that Ford could successfully reprise the role were dispelled on the first day of filming. Lucas said that everyone on the set got a thrill when Ford appeared in his familiar hat and carrying a whip. “When he does that, it transports you to a magic place. Even ‘Star Wars’ doesn’t have that iconic a character. What I like about Indy is that he is not a superhero. He’s just like the rest of us, only he comes up with clever ideas first.”

Ford also doesn’t see Indy as a hero. “I think real heroes – and the people I admire the most – are ordinary people who do selfless things.” Lucas, for his part, said he believed that Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic Party nominee for the U.S. presidential election was a “hero-in-waiting for those of us who have dreams and hopes.”

So is this it for Indy? “I hope he has a lot more miles left in him,” said Ford, “but we’ll have to take it one step at a time.” 

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” opens in Japan on June 21.