Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is the upcoming fifth entry in the popular adventure series, and a new theory proposes that the titular dial will actually be used to rewrite history. Although the Indiana Jones movies tend to stay pretty grounded in their treasure-hunting escapades, the series hasn’t been afraid to mix in a little sci-fi, with the franchise previously featuring aliens and face-melting magic. So, making an Indiana Jones movie that features time traveling wouldn’t be too far off from previous films, and it seems like that’s what Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is doing.
The long-awaited continuation of the Indiana Jones franchise is finally happening, being the first entry since 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. A lot of changes seem to be occurring in the fifth entry of the long-running franchise, with the cast of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny adding tons of new members, with Harrison Ford’s Indy being joined by his goddaughter Helena and an all-new villain named Jürgen Voller. Interestingly, Voller is a former Nazi, a trend that has been a part of the series since Raiders of the Lost Ark, and this new villain is where this theory spawns from.
Indiana Jones 5’s Villain Would Like To “Correct” The Past
In Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, actor Mads Mikkelsen will be playing Jürgen Voller, a former Nazi who was recruited by NASA after World War II. Now, Nazis are nothing new to the Indiana Jones franchise, but comments made by Mads Mikkelsen while promoting the film are what have led to this exciting new theory. According to Mikkelsen, Voller is “a man who would like to correct some of the mistakes of the past.” This could mean that Indiana Jones 5 could explore real-world history, with Voller regretting that the Nazis lost WWII, or these mistakes could refer to something more personal to Voller.
Mikkelsen goes on to say that Voller believes that he can do “something that could make the world a much better place to live in.” Considering that Voller is a Nazi, his plan is probably only good in his eyes. However, it has been made clear that Jürgen Voller wants to change the outcomes of past decisions. While Voller could simply put forth his plan due to regrets regarding his past actions, when these comments are taken more literally, it makes the plot of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Doom sound a lot more exciting, exploring something that the franchise has never attempted before.
The Dial Of Destiny Could Be The Key To Changing History
It isn’t exactly known what the Dial of Destiny is in Indiana Jones 5, with the titular artifact not being mentioned in the trailer or any of the film’s marketing up to this point. Presumably, it is the treasure that Indiana Jones is racing Voller to find, as previous Indiana Jones movies have referred to the film’s key treasures in the title, such as the Ark of the Covenant and the Crystal Skull. On its own, a simple dial wouldn’t be that valuable. However, like other Indiana Jones treasures, it probably has some sort of magical properties – and it’s probably time travel.
If Voller is truly looking to correct mistakes of the past, having a time-traveling dial would definitely aid him in completing his goals. In the hands of a Nazi, the Dial of Destiny would be an incredibly powerful tool, allowing him to entirely rewrite the history of World War II, making Nazis the victor in Indiana Jones 5. There are tons of theories as to why the dial has these powers, with one of the more popular ones positing that the dial is connected to the Greek fate Atropos. Even the Dial of Destiny’s name hints at these magical powers, hinting that it is a dial that can change destiny.
While the various interviews with the cast and marketing materials make it seem like the Dial of Destiny is able to change history, the only thing against this theory is if the writers would actually do it in an Indiana Jones movie. Many long-time viewers were frustrated with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, saying that it added too much sci-fi that doesn’t belong in the franchise. Because of this, it was expected that Indiana Jones 5 would be more grounded. If it does contain time travel, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will be doubling down on this criticism, which is an interesting move.
This Would Explain Indiana Jones 5’s Flashbacks & De-Aging
The trailer for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny hinted that the film would feature a significant amount of flashbacks, with the film teasing several scenes that follow a de-aged version of Indiana Jones in the past. Other characters can also be seen in these flashbacks, including Jürgen Voller himself. While it initially seemed like the flashbacks in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny would be fun excerpts from Indy’s previous adventures, if the time-traveling theory is true, these scenes could become a lot more significant.
According to the theory, the flashbacks following a de-aged Indiana Jones aren’t really flashbacks. Instead, they’re scenes that follow Indy and Voller hopping through time, with Indy attempting to stop the villain’s plans to change history by reinstating Nazi rule in the present. It could be that the Dial of Destiny even allows the present versions of characters to take over their past bodies, explaining why Mads Mikkelsen’s Voller and Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones are de-aged in the flashback scenes.
Furthermore, Voller may not just be trying to change his past – he could also be trying to change Indy’s. The trailer for Indiana Jones 5 heavily features Indy reminiscing on his past adventures, responding to Sallah by saying the days of adventuring have “come and gone.” If time travel is truly part of the movie, it makes sense that the Dial of Destiny would be used to explore Indy’s past, adding another layer of danger as well as emotion to the film. Everything in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, including the title, flashbacks, and the villain’s motivation, hints that the Dial of Destiny can rewrite history.
