Harrison Ford has agreed to lend his face to Indiana Jones one more time, and this time it will not be on a movie screen.
Ford, the 84-year-old actor, revealed on Saturday, Aug. 15, that he served as the model for the Indiana Jones Audio-Animatronic in “Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent,” a new attraction under construction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Lucasfilm said it marks the first time his face has appeared on a Disney attraction anywhere in the world.
Ford did not appear in person. He delivered the news in a pre-recorded video message played at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., where Imagineers Michael Hundgen and Chris Beatty presented alongside him. He added that the attraction is coming to Walt Disney World soon.
Reddish Stone and Turquoise Trim
Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro posted photographs on Instagram on Oct. 20 showing construction progress at Walt Disney World, among them the Maya temple being built for the Indiana Jones attraction. The images show reddish stonework, turquoise details and painted sections already completed, with scaffolding still in place.
Aerial photos published Oct. 11 showed crews assembling the temple from prefabricated pieces, working on the base, the middle tiers and the roofline at the same time.
Disney filed a construction notice on Sept. 11 naming Buena Vista Construction Company, its in-house construction arm, covering labor, material and electrical work at the attraction’s site. The filing expires one year after its date, and Disney has not said which phase of construction it covers.
A Serpent Guards the Underworld
The ride tells an original story rather than one lifted from a film. Dr. Jones explores an ancient Maya temple beside a cenote — a cave once filled with water — that local legend says leads to the Maya Underworld, a realm guarded by a serpentine creature called Tsukán.
Riders get pulled through a portal into that realm, where they face giant bats, oversized scorpions, fire and snakes. Tsukán confronts them throughout the ride, including in a final showdown. Imagineers hand-sculpted the figure, which towers over the team building it.
Disney said its Imagineers worked with archaeologists, anthropologists and Maya experts, and researched the project at Copán, Honduras, one of the best-preserved ancient Maya cities.
A Fictional Village Replaces DinoLand
The attraction anchors Tropical Americas, the new area replacing DinoLand U.S.A. The land is themed to Pueblo Esperanza, a fictional village inspired by communities throughout the tropical Americas. It will hold restaurants, gathering spaces and family attractions, along with Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto and a carousel, El Carrusel de los Animalitos.
Disney has announced no specific opening date for the attraction or for the land. A press kit released Oct. 1 for Walt Disney World’s 55th anniversary listed Tropical Americas, featuring the Indiana Jones and Encanto attractions, as “opening in 2027.” BlogMickey reported in September that Disney had removed a 2027 timeframe from one of its webpages, while stating its understanding that the land is still planned to open in 2027.
Five Films and Still Working
Ford originated the role in Steven Spielberg’s 1981 film “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” Spielberg directed him again in 1984’s “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” 1989’s “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” and 2008’s “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” James Mangold directed the fifth film, 2023’s “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” which underperformed at the box office.
Ford accepted the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award at the Actor Awards on Sunday, March 1. “I’m still a working actor,” he told the audience. He stars in Apple TV’s “Shrinking,” which was renewed for a fourth season in January.
