The first look at Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny has finally arrived, and it is already garnering elated reactions from fans. The trailer is chock-full of Easter eggs and callbacks, but some of the most exciting moments speak to the future. To be more specific, certain elements point toward a new beginning for the storied adventure series. With the introduction of Phoebe-Waller Bridge’s character Helena and the trailer’s focus on wistful looks back on Indiana Jones’ history, Dial of Destiny seems like another attempt to pass the torch.

With Harrison Ford aging out of his iconic role (despite the use of de-aging technology), it feels like the right time for the end of Indy’s adventures, at long last. But given the current state of the cinematic world, it’s a foolhardy proposition to believe that any franchise with the earning potential of one Indiana Jones could ever reach a true finale. With that in mind, it’s a near certainty that groundwork is being laid in Dial of Destiny for a continuation.

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Phoebe Waller-Bridge Could Be Next in Line for the Indiana Jones Role

One of the primary pieces of evidence pointing to a continuation is the introduction of Helena. Indy refers to himself as her "godfather," and she looks like an essential element of the plot. Most key set pieces teased in the recently released trailer involve Helena directly. In fact, in one quick moment, she even dons similar garb to Indy’s iconic adventure outfit.

The Trailer Emphasizes the End of an Indiana Jones Era

Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny poster

The trailer emphasizes Dial of Destiny being the iconic character’s last ride. The tone is wistful and backward-facing, bringing back characters not seen since the original trilogy, like Jonathan Rhys-Davies’ Sallah. And Sallah’s voice-over narration reminiscing over the pair’s previous adventures, combined with Harrison Ford’s age, implies that this picture is the one in which Indy finally hangs up his hat. Additionally, the trailer promises the franchise return of the series’ ultimate Big Bad -- Nazis. All the iconic elements of the original Indiana Jones trilogy are back in full force, which speaks to the “last hurrah” energy of the proceedings on display in the trailer.

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Indiana Jones Already Tried to Pass the Torch Before

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

There’s also a precedent set in the Indiana Jones franchise for attempted torch-passing. In the previous installment Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Indy’s illegitimate son Mutt Williams (portrayed by then it-boy Shia Labeouf) appeared to be getting primed to take on the adventurer mantle in his father’s stead. The film's final shot even featured Mutt literally picking up his pop’s iconic fedora in a clear wink toward the character's potential future. Due to poor reception, that future never materialized. Clearly, though, the intent is there. While Waller-Bridge’s character likely won’t function as a literal replacement for Indiana Jones, under this path, the next step in the franchise wouldn’t be an Indiana Jones film. It would be a Helena-centric spinoff, with the character’s own adventures front and center.

Plot details surrounding Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny are scarce, to say the least. Theories abound that time travel plays some part in Indy's newest adventure, which opens up an entirely different can-of-worms in terms of franchise implications. But as the trailer clearly displays, Indiana Jones as a character is nearing his cinematic end. And more importantly, the hints peppered throughout that same trailer indicate that when an inevitable sequel arrives, it will have Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s character Helena as the headliner.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny debuts in theaters in June 2023.