Indy 5 ... minus the Indy?

"The fourth installment of Indiana Jones doesn't hit theaters until Thursday, but there's already buzz about making a fifth film without Harrison Ford in the lead role.

While walking the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of Kung Fu Panda, George Lucas hinted to reporters about the possibility of a sequel to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

"I haven't even told Steven [Spielberg] or Harrison this," he said. "But I have an idea to make Shia [LaBeouf] the lead character next time and have Harrison come back like Sean Connery did in the last movie. I can see it working out."

Although it's hard to imagine what Lucas has up his sleeve, passing the bullwhip to LaBeouf's character, Mutt Williams, could make sense. Rumors have been swirling for months that Mutt is Indiana's lovechild with Marion Ravenwood, played by Karen Allen.

But, for now, diehard Indy fans can breathe easy: Ford, 65, hasn't hung up his fedora just yet. On Friday he told reporters, "Till they tell me otherwise, I will continue to be Indiana Jones."

by Jovie Baclayon