Attila the Professor said:
I am interested in the question of the sorts of places that this fifth film could go that would broaden Indy's world and, to a lesser extent, possibly broaden an audience's too, giving them a story set in a place where we mightn't expect, or mightn't even know what it's like.
You tee this up so nicely!
First, I qualify my response: I can't say I have read all of the posts in this thread (and none of the links), so I apologize for any redundancy.
First, a word or two on academic environments
I will start by echoing (at least Olliana) the sentiment that we will NOT see college scenes. In my view, there was too much college in CS and those scenes were the most inert part of the film (even with Mutt's cycle scene). I bet Spielberg and Kennedy nix any college environments to help avoid the CS taint. Two possible exceptions: (1) A Mad-Men-esque '60's style modernism campus, like Mies van der Rohe's Illinois Institue of Technology, would be a compelling backdrop to show Indy 'out-of-time' or (more interestingly) keeping up with the times and actually awakening liberal global thinking in his young beef-fed, crew-cut American students so they don't end up being 'goose-stepping morons.' (2) Oxford -- specifically a great space like the Natural History Museum. I think 1960's UK, with the young Beatles, could be a location -- and an old Indy teaching in an old Victorian building to young English Mod students could be an interesting dynamic that would 'broaden' the Indy-verse.
Location 'Logic'
I think there are some intangibles that have to be weighed -- specifically the preferences of Disney, Kennedy, Spielberg and even Ford (in my analysis, I'm not factoring Koepp's preferences).
Starting with Disney, I think Disney is mindful of the locations of the other current movies on their slate so as to minimize concentration risk and possible audience fatigue. So while Disney's Jungle Book didn't stop Marvel from setting some key scenes in Africa [Avengers 2 and Civil War (and 'yes', I know Lagos was actually Atlanta)], I think having a presumably Africa-centric film already on the docket (Black Panther slated for a 2/18 release) could deter Disney from going Africa-heavy again so soon. On the other hand, I know the Obama Adminstration spent time encouraging US consumer product and other companies to invest in Africa, and while I don't buy into the Obama-to-be-the-next-head-of-Disney rumors, I wouldn't be surprised if Disney had received entreaties to do more in (mainly Central) Africa. I do like the Professor's Ghana storyline -- the Ghanaians are some of my favorite people on the planet (Niger and Congo are too dicey -- though a very cool 1960's story could be set in the Congo).
China
So Disney wants to sell tickets -- which takes us to China (and appeasing the Chinese government, so the film can actually be shown there).
Stoo said:
. . . .I?d love to see Hong Kong in the 5th film; Indy against the Commies with some British involvement...
I doubt we will see Hong Kong. China does not like anything that reminds people of the colonial past. I remember there was a restuarant in Shanghai that got in trouble for either naming itself 'The French Concession' or saying it was in 'The French Concession.' That's a total no go. Trust me, we won't see any 1960 vintage Art Weber's in Hong Kong sporting Her Majesty's livery. In the same vein, I bet we don't see the Philippines and/or Vietnam (unless it puts Vietnam in a bad light). Plus, keeping with my prior Disney logic, there is a live action Mulan planned for 11/18.
Stoo said:
...as well as some SNOW somewhere/anywhere!
I'm pretty much with the crowd on this one. Further to my observations above, Kennedy and Marshal are mountain folks (Telluride), so I wouldn't be surprised with snow -- though I don't think it will be in Finland because folks there are so damn touchy about everything. They invent IKEA and think they know everything (just kidding on the IKEA thing). I think Frozen is sufficiently in the backround, so that's not a consideration -- but something tells me Scandanavia won't cut it.
I realize I have ruled out more than in. Simply put, I like:
U.K./London/Edinburgh/Ireland
West/East Germany
Greece/Crete/Malta
Canadian Rockies/Alaska
Japan
Cuba & Panama Canal
Galapogos/Fiji/Easter Island
I think we get a Venice equivalent. In other words, an on-location shot that will, to use the Professor's phrase, "broaden" the audience's world. I look at Wes Anderson's success in Grand Budaphest and wonder if they find another Eastern European setting that would really transport people.