Nineteen years may separate the release of the latest “Indiana Jones” film and its predecessor “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” but audiences haven’t forgotten the Hollywood action hero. “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” debuted last Thursday and raked in $126 million dollars from American audiences in its first four days of release. International audiences have also gone Indy crazy, adding an additional $143 million worth of ticket sales. That brings the total worldwide gross for “Indy 4” to $269 million dollars in less than one week of release.

Director Steven Spielberg has told fans that he would think about making another Indiana Jones adventure if “Crystal Skull” attracted audiences. Perhaps it’s time to hire a writer?

The newest issue of “Vanity Fair” features Harrison Ford and Shia LaBeouf on the cover promoting “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”. Inside the prestigious magazine is an extensive article which features quotes from the stars of the movie as well as its director, Steven Spielberg, and producer George Lucas.

“There’s something about the character that I guess is a good fit for me, because the minute I put the costume on, I recognize the tone that we need, and I feel confident and clear about the character,” says Harrison Ford. He endured 97 degree temperatures while wearing Indy’s trademark leather jacket. The magazine reveals that “Transformers” star LaBeouf is rumored to play the illegitimate son of Indy and Marion Ravenwood, Karen Allen’s heroine from the classic 1981 movie “Raiders of the Lost Ark”. Cate Blanchett is also in the film playing a Russian agent who is trying to capture Dr. Jones. The movie is set in the late 1950s and so will swap Nazis out in favor of using the Cold War Soviets as the movie’s bad guys.

The article also reveals that the world may never have met Indy had the producer of the movie series featuring a certain British secret agent said yes to a young Spielberg’s request. “I told him that I wanted to, for the second time, approach [film producer] Cubby Broccoli, who had turned me down the first time, to see if he would change his mind and hire me to do a James Bond movie,” told Steven Spielberg to the magazine. “And George said, ‘I’ve got something better than that. It’s called Raiders of the Lost Ark.’”

The new Indiana Jones movie will be in theaters this May.

An extra working on the set of “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” found himself in hot water after he told revealing secrets about the movie. Tyler Nelson, 24, worked on the highly anticipated new movie recently and was on hand when several scenes featuring Harrison Ford and Cate Blanchett were filmed. Nelson played a Russian soldier who celebrated the capture of Indiana Jones with the members of his troop by performing a traditional Russian dance. What landed the young actor in trouble with the film’s makers was an interview he gave to an Oklahoma

newspaper in which he spoiled several plot details from the movie.

Supposedly when director Steven Spielberg learned that the novice actor had shared what happens in the movie with the press he was reportedly so angry that he threatened to cut all of the scenes feauturing Nelson in the film. Spielberg’s press agent Martin Levy also issued an ominous statement about the future of Nelson’s budding acting career: “Who knows if he’s ever going to work in this town again?”

Among the spoilers that were printed by the newspaper was that Indy and the Russians are looking for a crystal skull said to have mystical powers; that Cate Blanchett’s character is a Russian Army interrogator that tortures Indy to reveal the whereabouts of the skull; and that during the course of the movie the Russians kidnap Indy’s old flame Marion Ravenwood (“Raiders of the Lost Ark” co-star Karen Allen) prompting Indy to develop romantic feelings for her once again. The movie is set for release next May.

Actor Jim Broadbent has won the role of Professor Horace Slughorn in “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”, the sixth movie in J.K. Rowling’s bestselling fantasy novel series. The story will find Slughorn rehired to his old posting as Hogwart’s Potions Master and Harry will discover that he has a history with his nemesis, the evil Lord Voldemort. “Slughorn is drawn back out of retirement because he’s got some secrets Harry and (headmaster) Dumbledore need in the battle against the Death Eaters,” explained Broadbent when asked about his character. “He’s quite star-struck as a teacher, and he’s drawn back into the fold because he likes to notch up celebrity students.”

The man who played Bridget Jones’ dad, Boss Tweed in “Gangs of New York” and the emcee of “Moulin Rouge!” is also playing pal to another well-recognized hero from film. Broadbent will be seen next year in “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” playing a different professor of sorts, a Yale scholar who is friends with Indiana Jones. After finishing up on “Harry Potter” Broadbent will next step into the shoes of infamous American President Richard Nixon in a drama called “Dirty Tricks”. Brad Pitt, Sharon Stone and Meryl Streep will also star in that film.

The title of the next Indiana Jones movie is “Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull”. Harrison Ford’s co-star in the film, rising star Shia LeBeouf, made the announcement Sunday evening during the MTV Video Music Awards. Shia joked that he was coming up to his 18^th birthday and since the awards were taking place in Las Vegas this year it was time to do something naughty, then he revealed the title to the audience.

Indy fans have been speculating about what the new film’s title would be for a long time. Many considered “Indiana Jones and the Lost City” a leading candidate but just as producer George Lucas proved to the world when he revealed the titles for his three “Star Wars” prequels, you can never expect what Indy’s creator will do next. The new “Indiana Jones” movie will open on May 22, 2008 and will also star Cate Blanchett, Ray Winstone, John Hurt and Karen Allen, Ford’s love interest from “Raiders of the Lost Ark”.

Sean Connery has decided that he will not star in “Indiana Jones 4”. The 76-year-old Scottish born actor has issued a statement on the official Indiana Jones website stating that his reason for not reprising the part of Indy’s stuffy dad is due to enjoying his time off. “I thought long and hard about it and if anything could have pulled me out of retirement it would have been an Indiana Jones film. I love working with Steven and George, and it goes without saying that it is an honor to have Harrison as my son. But in the end, retirement is just too damned much fun.”

Also announced at the time was the long rumored involvement of Academy Award-winner Cate Blanchett (“The Lord of the Rings”) and actors Ray Winstone (“The Departed”) and John Hurt (“V for Vendetta”). The three join the already announced Shia LaBeouf who will play the son of Indiana Jones. Filming has started on the movie in Connecticut and it will be out in theaters next May 22.

The whip is finally out of the bag! Hot on the heels of having his latest film, “Disturbia“, debut in number one spot at the box office, rising star Shia LaBeouf has been officially cast in the new “Indiana Jones” movie.We are excited about bringing Shia into our Indy family,” said the movie’s director, Steven Spielberg. “His talent has impressed not only his audiences throughout his young career but the directors, producers and fellow actors who have worked with him in his television career and now his film career.”

Spielberg did not say what LaBeouf’s character would be in the movie but the best guess so far is that he will be playing the son of Indiana Jones.

With Steven Spielberg eyeing a June start for the new “Indiana Jones” movie the rumors are flying faster than ever about who will star alongside Harrison Ford. Earlier reports that “Disturbia” and “Holes” star Shia LaBeouf was in talks to play the son of Indiana caught the attention of the world press but have been downplayed by the 21-year-old actor who told reporters recently that it was just a rumor and that he had not been talking with anyone about starring in the movie.

Last week another development broke when word came down that Academy Award-winning actress Cate Blanchett had been cast in “Indy 4″. However, that may not be the case just yet as an Indy fansite told its readers that she was still in talks to appear in the movie and had not signed a deal just yet. Speculation ran rampant as to what role Blanchett could be up for, such as a possible new love interest for Indy or maybe even a longlost daughter that he didn’t know about.

Finally, a Taiwanese newspaper printed an interview with “Miami Vice” actress Gong Li stating that she is up for a part in a big budget Hollywood movie that is supposed to start filming this June, igniting speculation that the movie in question is none other than “Indiana Jones 4“. With no official cast announcements coming from Spielberg or Paramount Pictures and still no clue about what the movie’s title will be, fans of Indy have been left wondering how much longer they will remain in the dark until they know what the new movie is about and who will be standing alongside Dr. Jones in his latest adventure.

Rumors are flying that 20-year-old Shia LaBeouf has landed a coveted role in the new “Indiana Jones” movie. LaBeouf just finished making the live-action “Transformers” movie for producer Steven Spielberg, so it is quite conceivable that the director liked what he saw in the young actor and chose him to star opposite Harrison Ford in the fourth Indy movie. A source for Aint It Cool News is saying that LaBeouf will play the son of Indiana in the movie. If the report proves to be accurate and if Sean Connery reprises his role as Dr. Jones Sr. then the fourth “Indiana Jones” picture will have three generations of Joneses for us to watch.

LaBeouf’s other credits include “Constantine”, “The Battle of Shaker Heights”, “Holes” and “I, Robot”.