The mystery behind '35-year-old' Harrison Ford in the new Indiana Jones: A triumph of VFX technology

Harrison Ford, the illustrious actor known for his portrayal of Indiana Jones, is set to embark on a captivating on-screen journey in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. This journey doesn't involve grand landscapes or perilous adventures but rather an impressive leap back in time through the use of cutting-edge visual effects technology.

The movie's director, James Mangold, revealed in a recent interview with Total Film magazine that viewers will be treated to approximately 25 minutes of a much younger Ford, closely resembling his appearance in Raiders of the Lost Ark. This significant inclusion of the younger Indiana Jones isn't just a fleeting flashback; it forms an integral part of the sequel.

Mangold lauds Ford for being "incredibly gifted and agile," a key aspect that facilitated the seamless transition of the 79-year-old actor into a 35-year-old on screen. The director explained the process, which involved "hundreds of hours of footage of him in close-ups, in mediums, in wides, in every kind of lighting, night and day." This allowed them to film Ford as an older man and, within a few days, have preliminary footage of a much younger version of him.

The de-ageing technology used to achieve this remarkable transformation is no ordinary feat. It involves artificial intelligence that trawled through Ford's entire filmography, ensuring the authenticity of the de-aged face, a fact that Ford himself confirms. "They have this artificial intelligence programme that can go through every foot of film that Lucasfilm owns. So they can mine it from where the light is coming from—from the expression. But that’s my actual face. Then I put little dots on my face, and I say the words, and they made it. It’s fantastic," said Ford.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny follows Indiana Jones in 1969 as he strives to prevent the re-emergence of Nazism. The film's opening sequence, set in 1944, necessitated the de-aging of Ford, a task that the team accomplished with grace and precision. Kathleen Kennedy, producer and Lucasfilm president, hopes viewers will simply enjoy the narrative, viewing the de-aged Ford as footage shot decades ago.

Despite Ford's awe at seeing his younger self, which he describes as "a little spooky," he affirms his acceptance of his age. "I’m glad to have earned my age," the legendary actor added, displaying his usual humility and candour.

Fans can look forward to witnessing this spectacular transformation when Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny premieres at the Cannes Film Festival before its nationwide release by Disney on June 30.