Star Wars Celebration 2023 kicked off its opening day in London, England, on Friday, Apr. 7, with a non-stop series of announcements about some of the year’s most highly anticipated productions, such as the upcoming feature filmIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. During the day’s festivities, a parade of actors took to the stage during the studio panel to reveal new information about the latest Lucasfilm productions.Mads Mikkelsen, who plays Doctor Jürgen Voller, an ex-Nazi turned 1969 Apollo space program engineer, inDial of Destiny, revealed some key information about his character’s motivation in the film: Voller believes “something better is out there.”
“I’m German. I’m from the ’30s. I’m a scientist. And I think that’s all I’m allowed to say,” Mikkelsen joked before giving Celebration attendees a few more details about his character, who is based on real-life Nazi-turned-NASA-engineer Wernher von Braun that was part of Operation Paperclip (incidentally, von Braun was referenced in Dark Horse Comics’Indiana Jones and the Tomb of the Gods).
“Both Indy and Jürgen Voller are lost in the past,” the actor said when asked how an ex-Nazi fits into the film’s Space Age setting. “I mean, just look at the way they dress. But they also have dreams that have nothing to do with the present. ‘69 is just a phase – you have to get over it, something better is out there, at least that’s how my character sees it.”
Watch the clip of Mikkelsen on stage at Star Wars Celebration below:
Related:Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny Is the Longest Movie of the Franchise
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Trailer Debuts at Star Wars Celebration
The stars and filmmakers ofIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destinyalso dazzled the Celebration crowd in attendance at the panel with anever-before-seen trailer, an extensive look at the film, and a brand-new poster. Appearing in person were cast members Mikkelsen and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who plays Helena, along with the director and co-writer James Mangold and producer Kathleen Kennedy. Unfortunately, Dr. Jones himself couldn’t make it in person, but the inimitable Harrison Ford did appear to give a video greeting.
Starring alongside Ford, Waller-Bridge, and Mikkelsen are Antonio Banderas, John Rhys-Davies, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, and Ethann Isidore. Directed by Mangold, the film is produced by Kennedy, Frank Marshall, and Simon Emanuel, with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas serving as executive producers. John Williams, who has scored each Indy adventure since the originalRaiders of the Lost Arkin 1981, has once again composed the score.
Dial of Destinywill be Ford’s finalIndiana Jonesadventure,premiering at the Cannes Film Festivalon May 18 and opening in theaters on June 30.
