James Mangold, director of the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destinyrecently explained in an interview with IGN why he believes the Nazis play such an important role in the Indiana Jones universe. Mangold replied:
“They’re as much a part of the character of Indiana Jones as every other element we’re familiar with. But also I think there are a million ways it’s just relevant even to our world today, whether they’re called one thing or another, these things don’t die away. These groups have kind of dreams of order and of the old days and are trying to return to them. So I felt like it was both familiar and relevant.”
Mangold believes they serve as relevant critiques of our society today, but also as a classic and familiar marker of the Indy film franchise. This isn’t the first time Indiana Jones has fought Nazis, as they were also villains in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and The Last Crusade (1989).
The film premieres in Sweden on June 29, 2023.
