Indiana Jones: Harrison Ford Back For New Film

Harrison Ford is to play Indiana Jones in a fifth instalment of the film series to be released 38 years after Raiders Of The Lost Ark.

Walt Disney Co said the new, as yet untitled film will be directed by Steven Spielberg and is expected to be in cinemas in three years' time.

"Indiana Jones is one of the greatest heroes in cinematic history and we can't wait to bring him back to the screen in 2019," Disney chairman Alan Horn said in a statement.

It will come 11 years after the fourth movie in the franchise, 2008's Indiana Jones And The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

The other films in the series are Indiana Jones And The Temple of Doom (1984) and Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989).

Ford's action-hero archaeologist 'Indy' was recently declared the greatest movie personality of all time, beating Ian Fleming's James Bond into second place.

Ford, 73, also took third place in the poll for his role as Han Solo in the Star Wars films, voted for by readers of Empire magazine.

There had been speculation that Shia LaBeouf, who played Jones' sidekick in Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull, might take up the hero's whip.

But in October, the films' series producer declared the role would only ever be played by Ford.

Frank Marshall said: "We are not doing the Bond thing where we're going to call somebody else Indiana Jones."

In November, Spielberg had said he would love to make a fifth Indiana Jones before Ford turns 80.

The Hollywood director told French radio station RTL he was keen to create another adventure for the archaeologist.

"I am hoping one day to make it to a fifth Indiana Jones," he said, adding: "I would hope to make it before Harrison Ford is 80 and I get much older."