But by Sunday, the 2007 start date didn't seem so solid. A Lucasfilm spokesman said he couldn't confirm all the details in the AP story, suggested the report might contain some inaccuracies and referred E! Online to Spielberg's company, Amblin, which would oversee the fourth installment.

The Amblin representative in turn said the AP story didn't appear to be entirely accurate. While acknowledging that a lot of people want to get the movie to "happen," he said the article appeared to make plans sound more definite than they were at this time as it had omitted such words as "hopefully" from Lucas' comments. The Amblin rep said the company may announce something official on Indy 4 this week, but quickly qualified that with the word "hopefully."

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - Director George Lucas said Friday [Dec 29, 2006] filming for the much-anticipated "Indiana Jones" movie will begin next year and he promised it will be "the best one yet."
Lucas said he and director Steven Spielberg recently finalized the script, which stars Harrison Ford, who appeared in the three earlier flicks.

"It's going to be fantastic. It's going to be the best one yet," the 62-year-old filmmaker said during an interview at the Beverly Wilshire hotel where he took a break from his duties as grand marshal for the Rose Parade.

Exact film locations have not been decided yet, but Lucas said part of the movie will be shot in Los Angeles.

The fourth chapter of the "Indiana Jones" saga, which will hit theaters in May 2008, has been in development for over a decade with several screenwriters taking a crack at the script, but it only recently gained momentum.

While Lucas kept mum about the plot, he promised the latest action flick will be a "character piece" that will include "very interesting mysteries." "I think it's going to be really cool," Lucas said.

At the inaugural Rome Film Festival in October, the 64-year-old Ford said he was excited to team up with Lucas and Spielberg again for the fourth "Indiana Jones" installment. Ford said he was "fit to continue" to play the title role despite his age. Ford played Indiana Jones in 1981's "Raiders of the Lost Ark," 1984's "Temple of Doom" and 1989's "The Last Crusade." Lucas praised Ford for breathing life into his character.

"Mostly it's the charm of Harrison that makes it work," he said.

News source: Associated Press/Alicia Chang, reported in our forum by Lorrie.