The long-awaited next instalment of the blockbuster Indiana Jones franchise is scheduled for release in 2022. The as-yet-unnamed offering will follow on from 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which was a box office sensation that earned $790 million worldwide. Paramount Pictures will be hoping to exceed this with the next instalment and may be able to do so with the help of the online casino industry. Adventure themes are highly prevalent in the gambling sector and could serve to whet players’ appetite for Indiana Jones.
Adventure Themes are Prevalent in Casino and Gaming Industry
If the casino industry can be used as a yardstick, there is definitely a large audience interested in adventure themes. For example, at https://www.royalpanda.com/ca/, there are numerous slot games that appeal to players’ hunger for mystery and intrigue in exciting locations. For instance, Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead has an ancient Egyptian theme. Play’n GO clearly took inspiration from Indiana Jones when they created the intrepid titular explorer, who has also appeared in other games. There are also numerous Tomb Raider slot games for players to enjoy.
In other sectors of the gaming industry, it seems that players still have a keen interest in exploration as well. Some of the most popular games in recent times on console include the rebooted Tomb Raider offerings from Square Enix. Uncharted: A Thief’s End from Naughty Dog shipped more than 15 million copies and was one of the most successful games on the PlayStation 4.
Paramount Pictures could aim to learn from this and cut deals with developers to get more Indiana Jones content out into the gaming industry. One method to do this would be to contact an esteemed slot developer like NetEnt or Microgaming and ask them to create an Indiana Jones slot game.
New Film Should Offer Something More Than Nostalgia
Aside from attracting audiences via the franchise method in slots, the new Indiana Jones film will have to be entertaining. This way, it can bring in more viewers through reviews and word of mouth. One of the most successful models in the entertainment industry in recent times has been to create content that evokes nostalgia. This is a powerful tool, as it can transport people back in time and make them recall happy memories. However, it can also feel lazy and overdone when filmmakers rely on it too much. They can often sacrifice original ideas in favour of nostalgia.
When Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was released in 2008, it attracted mass audiences, many of whom will have been there because of their love for the earlier offerings. This was reflected in the box office take of more than $790 million, which made it the most successful film in the series. It was released nearly twenty years after The Last Crusade, so there was nostalgia about seeing some of the old characters again.
The offering from Steven Spielberg was criticised for using the same tropes of old, but reviewers like https://www.rogerebert.com/ also noted that this appeased fans of the 1980s adventures. However, new viewers may have been underwhelmed. The next instalment in the series should have some of the tried-and-tested themes, but it needs to go in a new direction that will bring fresh audiences in as well. This could involve scriptwriters looking to slot games for ideas. One of the common themes of adventure slots is the uncovering of ancient artefacts. Players often have to match three or more symbols to unlock the next stage. Perhaps Indiana Jones could collect a number of similar ancient items and put them together to open a secret passage to another part of the adventure.
Jones Set to Return in 2022
The fifth film in the Indiana Jones franchise has gone through development hell, and its production has been pushed back on a number of occasions. Currently, it is slated to be released in 2022. However, this could change again if there are further issues behind the scenes.
Spielberg opted to step down as director for the new title, and Logan director James Mangold has taken over the reins according to https://uk.news.yahoo.com/. Jonathan Kasdan began working on the script in May 2020. These developments suggest the wheels are in motion for the upcoming Indiana Jones romp.
If the 2022 Indiana Jones instalment finally comes to fruition, there will be a huge audience ready and waiting to watch it. This is highlighted by the fact that adventure themes are at the forefront of the booming online casino industry. If Paramount Pictures can get some branded games in there as well, it could be highly beneficial. It may also have been a wise move for the studio to wait more than ten years since the last one, as the nostalgia effect will still be strong. However, the new film will have to be more inventive to keep the hope of further sequels alive.
Image Credits: Ahmad Qaisieh
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