Overview
Sydney Film Festival is swapping indie films for an Indy film for one big night to close out its 2023 event. Heading to the Harbour City straight from premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, and featuring Harrison Ford back in the hat, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will officially wrap up the New South Wales capital's annual cinema tribute when this year's festival wraps up on Sunday, June 18.
SFF is no stranger to big Hollywood flicks, of course — Pixar's Elemental is one such title already in the 2023 lineup — but it's going the action blockbuster route with its closing-night slot. The latest and fifth Indiana Jones entry will enjoy its Australian premiere at the fest, ahead of opening in Aussie cinemas on Wednesday, June 28.
"Indiana Jones has held a special place in the hearts of audiences around the world for over 40 years," said Sydney Film Festival Director Nashen Moodley, announcing the fest's closer for 2023 two weeks after the event's full program was unveiled.
"We are thrilled to close on such a high note and offer Australian audiences the first chance to experience this incredible sequel to a cinematic classic."
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny arrives 42 years after Raiders of the Lost Ark made archaeologist Indiana Jones one of the most famous big-screen characters there is, 39 years since Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom gave it a sequel, 34 years after Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade initially seemed to wrap things up and 15 years since Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull got things going again.
As well as bringing back its legendary star fresh from proving a cantankerous delight in streaming comedy Shrinking, in what's been dubbed his final appearance as Indy, the new film also makes a few fresh stellar casting moves. Getting Fleabag favourite Phoebe Waller-Bridge onboard is clearly one of them.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny heads back to the 60s, and uses the Space Race between the US and the Soviet Union as a backdrop. Story-wise, the also supremely well-cast Mads Mikkelsen (Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore) leads a group of Nazis trying to use the movie's titular trinket to change the past and claim power — a gadget that Helena (Waller-Bridge), Indy's goddaughter, has her own plans for in the name of capitalism.
The archaeologist's latest outing brings in a few changes to the series, with Steven Spielberg (The Fabelmans) out of the director's chair for the first time ever, handing over the reins to Logan and Ford v Ferrari's James Mangold. And, George Lucas doesn't have a part in the script, either, with Mangold co-scripting with Ford v Ferrari's Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth. That said, the famous John Williams-composed theme will soundtrack the action again — and echo through Sydney's State Theatre.
Check out the full trailer for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny below:
Sydney Film Festival 2023 runs from Wednesday, June 7–Sunday, June 18 at various Sydney cinemas — head to the festival website for further information and tickets.
After closing the Sydney Film Festival, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny releases in cinemas Down Under on Wednesday, June 28, 2023.
Images: © 2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.