What role does Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge play in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny? Details explored

James Mangold's Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny has effectively become the talk of the town following its premiere at Cannes 2023. The final film for Harrison Ford, who has been a part of the franchise from the start, announced that he is not going to return as the globe-trotting archaeologist again following this fifth film in the franchise.

Apart from Harrison Ford, who reprised his role as the titular Indiana Jones, the world-renowned globe-trotting archaeologist and college professor, this film also featured an ensemble cast that included Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helena Shaw, Jones' goddaughter, who was described as the 'catalyst' for this edition of the film by director James Mangold.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge shot to prominence following the resounding success of her TV show, Fleabag, where she also played the protagonist.

---

Phoebe Waller-Bridge describes her character in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny as "unique" with a "fresh voice"

With a sequel set so many years after the previous film, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was set to introduce many new characters. Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Helena Shaw appeared in the movie as one of the major plot points. According to Mangold, she was the story's main factor and dragged her godfather into her problems, leading to another globe-trotting adventure for Ford's Indiana Jones.

Speaking about her character to Total Film magazine, Phoebe Waller-Bridge said:

"I think they really achieved something extraordinary: she fits into the canon, and she feels like there is certainly an energy that she shares with all the characters that have come before, especially with the female parts, but she is unique, and she has a fresh voice,...She was somebody who was mysterious from the off. I think [Indy's] often been the mystery to those characters before, especially his female counterparts, and I think there's something really unusual in how they flip that here."

In the story, she is the daughter of Jones' old friend, who was never shown in the film before.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny follows Indiana Jones and his goddaughter Helena as they race against time to find a legendary dial with the power of changing history. They are soon faced with a massive threat in the form of Jürgen Voller (Mads Mikkelsen), a NASA member and ex-Nazi involved with the moon-landing program.

The synopsis for the film reads:

"Daredevil archaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to retrieve a legendary dial that can change the course of history. Accompanied by his goddaughter, he soon finds himself squaring off against Jürgen Voller, a former Nazi who works for NASA."

The film additionally stars Antonio Banderas, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Thomas Kretschmann, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Ethann Isidore, and Mark Killeen, among many others.

Dial of Destiny is the only film in the franchise to be not directed by Steven Spielberg. Additionally, it is the first film to be not written by George Lucas, who worked in all four of the previous films. The plan for this fifth film goes back to as early as the 1970s, which finally took shape recently.

---

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will release theatrically on June 30, 2023.