Top 10 Actors Who Should Be the Next Indiana Jones

Indiana Jones isn't just an action hero. He's an archaeologist with a knack for danger, a charming rogue with a sharp sense of humor, and a relentless pursuer of history's secrets. The actor stepping into those boots needs to embody courage, curiosity, and just enough of a mischievous edge to make you believe they've been through the ringer and loved every second of it.

So, who fits the bill? A great Indiana Jones needs charisma that can light up the screen, a physical presence that feels believable in high-stakes chases, and an ability to deliver one-liners with just the right amount of sarcasm.

You want someone who can wear a leather jacket and a fedora like they were born to it. Someone who can swing from a whip and make it look effortless. Most importantly, this actor needs the acting chops to bring depth to a character who's more than just a swashbuckling adventurer. There's heart, vulnerability, and a sense of wonder beneath all that swagger.

What you'll find here is a collection of actors who voters think have what it takes to pick up the torch.

The Top Ten

Chris Pratt

Christopher Michael Pratt (born June 21, 1979) is an American actor and film producer. He gained recognition for his television roles as Bright Abbott in Everwood and Andy Dwyer in the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation.
He later became a leading film actor with roles in Guardians of the Galaxy,... read more

He's the number one choice as far as everyone is concerned, and it's impossible not to see why. He got Spielberg's attention (result: Jurassic World), and after seeing that film, it's even easier to imagine the newly crowned A-list actor in the role.

He's on the top of everyone's list. He is Indy.

It's partly that he has the looks, but also he really reminds me of Ford in the way he's a total playboy kind of idiot, yet he gets the job done.
Tom Hardy

Edward Thomas Hardy, CBE, is an English actor and film producer.
Originally a model, Hardy made his film debut in Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down (2001). He gained wider recognition for his roles in films such as Bronson (2008), Inception (2010), and Mad Max: Fury Road (2015).... read more

I don't know why, but Tom Hardy just seems to fit like a hand in a glove for the role. His age is just right, he has a badass, sort of toned-down, mysterious personality. He just seems to fit the bill of a serious, seasoned adventurer who has seen his share of things, with something dark about his personality yet an underlying goodness.

Remember the badass stunts in the original movies. A new Indiana needs to be tough, rugged, and a true physical actor who can carry the anti-hero role. He can also bring the charm and humor, but all the other suggestions are soft, goofy pretty boys who don't have the chops. Hardy is the clear choice if possible.
Michael Fassbender

Michael Fassbender is a German-Irish actor of stage and screen whose career includes roles in both independent and blockbuster films. He is best known for performances in Hunger, Inglourious Basterds, Shame, X-Men: First Class, Prometheus, 12 Years a Slave, Frank, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and Steve... read more

I firmly believe he's the one and only who should inherit that role. I wouldn't say I'm a fan of him, but I've been and will be an Indy fan for my whole life. Unlike with all the others, I can't think of a reason why he wouldn't be the perfect choice.
Furthermore, above other requirements to think of, there's one quality I always wanted for the next possible Indy - a quality I believe Harrison Ford had, which is the appropriate balance between looking very handsome and having the right mind for the role. Fassbender has the right sort of good looks in a pleasant, "neutral" way, and he also usually shows elegant sparks of intelligence that could revive the role in the direction I wish for, which is to keep the character interesting due to an educated background.
One thing I love and find most necessary about Indy is his professor side, which brings that idealistic and mysterious conjunction of intellectual knowledge behind a practical approach to things. It's what makes the character really fascinating to me. Fassbender would be perfect. Oh, and he also speaks German (useful, don't you think?).
Bradley Cooper

Bradley Charles Cooper is an American actor and filmmaker. He has been nominated for twelve Academy Awards for acting, producing, and writing. Cooper has also been nominated for a Tony Award and is known for his roles in Silver Linings Playbook, American Sniper, and A Star Is Born.

He was considered to be the most likely choice a number of years ago. With Chris Pratt in the picture, his chances aren't looking quite as good, although he could still surprise us and win the role.
Aaron Eckhart

Since all the hype and buzz is surrounding Chris Pratt at the moment, you're probably not going to hear many people mention Aaron Eckhart and Indiana Jones in the same sentence (except for me, of course). The actor's not too busy these days, so scheduling wouldn't be a problem, and I think he's definitely got what it takes to embrace the challenge of playing a character of this size.
Maybe I'll...

You not only have to be handsome, you have to be cute, you have to be adorable, you have to be funny without trying, and you have to be a believable, slightly nerdy professor. And you still have to be tough and able to do some of the stunts to get good shots. Aaron can totally pull all that off.
Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Rodney Reynolds is a Canadian actor and producer. He played Michael Berg Bergen on the ABC sitcom Two Guys and a Girl and Billy Simpson in the YTV teen series Hillside.
He also portrayed Hannibal King in Blade: Trinity, Wade Wilson in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and the title role in Deadpool... read more

He's a suitable Deadpool, which blends action and comedy well enough together, so why couldn't he be a fitting Indiana Jones? If next year's 'Deadpool' turns into a smash hit (which I figure it will), maybe his name will start spreading across other people's lists.
Jeremy Renner

Jeremy Lee Renner is an American actor born in 1971, best known for his role as Clint Barton, also known as Hawkeye, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He has also received Academy Award nominations for his performances in The Hurt Locker and The Town. Renner has appeared in a variety of action and drama... read more

His rough-around-the-edges look seems pretty fitting for the role, doesn't it? I think so. He's tough as well as funny, and those two things are essential for playing Jones.

Jeremy Renner would be a great Indiana Jones!
Idris Elba

Idrissa Akuna "Idris" Elba OBE is an English actor, producer, musician, and DJ. He is known for playing drug trafficker Stringer Bell on the HBO series The Wire, DCI John Luther on the BBC One series Luther, and Nelson Mandela in the biographical film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Elba has received... read more

Why not? They're considering him to be a viable candidate to play a potential future 007. Why not Indiana Jones? Once you move beyond the skin color debate, you have a terrific actor for the role. I'm definitely okay with this idea.
Matthew McConaughey

Matthew David McConaughey (born November 4, 1969) is an American actor. He had his breakout role with a supporting performance in the coming-of-age comedy Dazed and Confused (1993). After a number of supporting roles, his first success as a leading man came in the legal drama A Time to Kill (1996). His... read more

He's a little on the older side to be taking over the role, I think, but that doesn't mean I can't imagine him playing Indy. He'd need to mask his accent, of course, to pull it off. He'd probably need to gain a few pounds, too.
Tom Hiddleston

Thomas William Hiddleston is an English actor. He's best known for his portrayal of Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in Thor, The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World, Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and the Disney+ series Loki. He's also earned acclaim outside Marvel... read more

He can play a grizzled action hero. Just watch "Kong: Skull Island." Also, he can wear a darn good cowboy hat. Just watch "I Saw the Light."

I photoshopped him into an Indiana Jones picture, and it is absolutely perfect!

The Newcomers

?
Shia LaBeouf

Shia Saide LaBeouf is an American actor, performance artist, and director who became known among younger audiences as Louis Stevens in the Disney Channel series Even Stevens. He gained wider recognition for roles in films such as Holes, Transformers, and Fury. LaBeouf is also known for his experimental... read more
?
Oliver Hudson

If you don't believe me, watch Grown Ups 2 when he dresses up as Indiana Jones. He fit perfectly in the costume.

The Contenders

Robert Pattinson

Robert Douglas Thomas Pattinson is an English actor, producer, model, and musician. He began his film career by playing Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, a 2005 fantasy film. He later gained worldwide recognition for his role as Edward Cullen in the Twilight film series.

I added Robert due to an unconfirmed report released a few years back suggesting that he was being scouted for the role. I'm not sure why Lucasfilm wanted him, but if they saw something in him, then maybe there's something that I am missing.
James Norton

James Geoffrey Ian Norton is an English actor best known for playing Reverend Sidney Chambers in the ITV period crime series Grantchester. He also portrayed Prince Andrei Bolkonsky in the 2016 BBC miniseries adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's novel War and Peace.... read more

Certainly more worthy than Chris Pratt!
Christian Bale

Christian Charles Philip Bale (born January 30, 1974) is an English actor known for his versatility and physical transformations for roles. He has been a leading man in films across several genres and has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. In 2014, Forbes... read more

I guess Christian Bale could pull off the role. I'm not sure he really has the look for it, but getting the characterization right is the main thing, and I'm almost certain he'd be able to do it.
Taron Egerton

Taron David Egerton is a Welsh actor best known for starring in the 2014 film Kingsman: The Secret Service and the 2016 film Eddie the Eagle. He also portrayed Elton John in the 2019 biographical musical Rocketman, a role that earned him a Golden Globe Award. Egerton trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic... read more
Jim Carrey

James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian and American actor, comedian, impressionist, screenwriter, and producer. He's well known for comedic roles in films such as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, Dumb and Dumber, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, The Cable Guy, Liar Liar, How the Grinch Stole Christmas... read more

What if they made an Indiana Jones spoof? This would be the number one role.
Richard Madden

Richard Madden is a Scottish stage, film, and television actor best known for portraying Robb Stark in the HBO series Game of Thrones and Prince Kit in Disney's Cinderella. He also starred in the BBC thriller Bodyguard, for which he won a Golden Globe Award. Madden has since appeared in several major... read more
Gerard Butler

Gerard James Butler (born 13 November 1969) is a Scottish actor and film producer.
After studying law, he turned to acting in the mid-1990s, taking on small roles in productions such as Mrs Brown (1997), the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), and Tale of the Mummy (1998).... read more
John Krasinski

John Burke Krasinski is an American actor, screenwriter, producer, and director. He gained widespread popularity for his role as Jim Halpert on the NBC sitcom The Office.
Krasinski also directed, co-wrote, and starred in the acclaimed horror film A Quiet Place and its sequel. He has received multiple... read more

Indy should be a little nerdy, a little understated sexy, like John.
George MacKay

George MacKay is an English actor best known for his role as Davy Henshaw in the 2013 musical film Sunshine on Leith, which features songs by The Proclaimers. He also received acclaim for starring in the 2019 war film 1917. MacKay began acting as a child and has built a diverse filmography.

Sunshine on Leith crooner MacKay is the British version of Chris Pratt.
Garrett Hedlund
Richard Armitage
Nathan Fillion

Nathan Fillion is a Canadian actor and voice actor best known for his role as Richard Castle on the ABC series Castle. He is also widely recognized for his earlier portrayal of Captain Malcolm Reynolds in the television series Firefly and its feature film continuation, Serenity. He's also been starring... read more

If I could be so bold, watching Nathan's portrayal of Captain Reynolds in Firefly and especially Serenity, all the qualities of a perfect Indiana Jones are expressed in perfect fashion. Intensity, humor, and physicality are true to form. I truly hope he could be considered.
Corbin Bleu
Kevin Guthrie

Kevin Guthrie is a Scottish actor. Among his best-known roles are Ally in Sunshine on Leith and Ewan in Terence Davies's 2015 film Sunset Song. He also appeared in the Fantastic Beasts film series.
Alex Pettyfer

Alex Pettyfer was born on April 10, 1990. Known for Magic Mike, Stormbreaker, Endless Love, etc.