Indiana Jones fans backtrack on calls to cancel new film after James Mangold announced as director

Steven Spielberg's decision to step down as director was initially met with derision

Indiana Jones fans are backtracking on their calls to cancel the new film after learning who will replace Steven Spielberg as director.

In February, it was announced that the filmmaker would not be directing the fifth instalment, but would remain on the project as a “hands on producer”.

It’s now been confirmed in an interview with Collider that Logan‘s James Mangold will take over once the script is written.

This will make the untitled fifth Indiana Jones film the first in the franchise’s 39-year history to not be directed by Spielberg.

His decision was inspired by a desire to pass the character’s legacy along “to a new generation to bring their perspective to the story”.

Following the initial announcement, which was reported by Variety, fans expressed their shock on social media, where a large contingent are questioning why production is continuing without Spielberg in the director’s chair.

However, Mangold’s involvement has seemed to pique the interest of concerned fans.

“Thank you James Mangold for making me interested in Indiana Jones 5,” one tweeter wrote, with another adding: “Wow, James Mangold is doing Indiana Jones 5. God, if he has a hand in the screenplay/rewrites no matter how small, that movie might be good.”

One person wrote: “I tip my fedora to this information.”

At the time, though, the reaction was not as hopeful.

“In my mind, literally the ONLY reason you’d do an INDIANA JONES V would be to course-correct after CRYSTAL SKULL. This was Spielberg’s chance to leave the franchise on a high note, basically a do-over. So, with him out of the equation I don’t know why you do this, period,” one journalist wrote.

Another tweeter wrote: “Ok, now I’m really angry! So now, we have an Indiana Jones movie with neither Spielberg or Lucas? Why are you doing this Disney?”

Another added: ”The lack of Steven Spielberg in the director’s chair, along with George Lucas not producing, means INDIANA JONES has joined STAR WARS as once defining cinematic franchises that are now just another piece of Disney IP.”

Harrison Ford – wo recently spoke out about the actor who was first offered the role before him – will return as the whip-cracking professor.

Spielberg’s next film will be a new version of West Side Story. This will be followed by The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara, an adaptation of David Kertzer’s novel following a young Jewish boy in 1850s Italy, which will star Oscar Isaac and Mark Rylance.

George Lucas – who helped create the character – will executive produce the fifth instalment, while John Williams will once again be on composing duties.

Mangold’s other film credits include Ford v Ferrari and Walk the Line.