First we denied this movie would never happen, then when it looked like it would happen we heard that Sean Connery was supposed to be in it, then he wasn’t (he did retire officially), then he was written in for a bit part and then dropped again. So now its official, he is out. But rumours circulated as to why. Some said he demanded a big paycheque, some said he hated the script. But now we get it from the big flannel shirt himself. George Lucas.
“No, in the end, it turned out better,” Lucas told the magazine. “In the beginning, he was just in a little bit of it, and I think with the strength of Sean Connery, people would’ve wanted him to go all the way through the whole thing, and the story really didn’t work that way. And so I think there would’ve been some disappointment that [his character] dropped out partway through the movie. By having somebody else fill that role, you lose him without any regret, so to speak, even though we got a great actor to play the part. And I mean, he’s not his father, so it’s much easier.”
I really like this out. It’s fitting that they DON’T use Connery simply as a fan service. The cameo level appearance just isn’t something that would lure Connery out of retirement for anything short of loyalty.
Lucas is right (did I just say that??). If they brought him along and wrote him in as a bit part people would be shitting kittens. That little taste of Connery to just forget he existed is just a tease. Its better that he is left alone.
The minor contributory role is being given to another character who is NOT Indy’s dad, and that makes a lot more sense.