There is another potential problem caused by the exceptionally long gestation period for the project: Harrison Ford’s rapidly advancing age. Ford is now 65 years old and that could a problem. Sure, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg aren’t getting any younger either, but they got to spend the production sitting in comfortable chairs behind the camera. Indiana Jones was always an incredibly physical role for Harrison Ford (he always tried to do as many of his own stunts as possible) and there is understandable concern that he may have problems forcing his aging body to participate in the action sequences. It’s certainly something that Spielberg and Lucas are aware of and plan to comment on in the film. Jones is supposed to have retired since the last movie and is making a late return to action-archeology specifically for this adventure. That concept is fine, but in the 2 minute trailer alone there are 3 joking references to the character’s age. If the movie is filled with “this ain’t as easy as it used to be” jokes, the premise is going to get very old very fast.

In addition to constant commentary on Ford’s age, the filmmakers have brought in a new “young gun” for Jones to train and eat up some screen time during the action scenes. This is also a little worrying. The “sarcastic young ward” character is an action/adventure cliché and could bring down a series that had for so long managed to mock and avoid cliché. The character is also played by rising star Shia LeBeouf, who was funny and charming in last summer’s Transformers, but is unproven as both an actor and an action star. Considering the fact that he will have to share screen time with one of the most consistent action stars of all time, he has his work cut out for him. Both the actor and the character could be wonderful additions to the franchise, but at the moment they are unknown and worrying commodities.

One final concern was discovered just one week ago. The final cut of the film has been locked and it is reportedly running at over two hours and twenty minutes. While there are many successful movies that hit that length (in fact, most of the movies that Spielberg has made in the last decade are at least that long), it seems like a little much for an action adventure movie. Action movies are all about entertainment and repetitive by design (set-up an action sequence within the first 15 minute and repeat until the closing credits). A good rule of thumb is to keep the films as short as possible to avoid audience burn out. Now, if anyone can sustain exciting action for over two hours it is Steven Spielberg, but there is no guarantee that he will succeed.