Phoebe Waller-Bridge joins new Indiana Jones movie

Phoebe Waller-Bridge is set to join Harrison Ford in the fifth Indiana Jones movie.

The Emmy-winning star and creator of Fleabag will appear in as-yet-unconfirmed role in the latest instalment of the hit adventure franchise. Steven Spielberg, who had directed the previous chapters, will hand over the reins to James Mangold, whose recent credits include Logan and Ford v Ferrari. The director previously stated that he wanted to “pass along Indy’s whip to a new generation to bring their perspective to the story”.

Spielberg will remain a producer along with Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Simon Emanuel.

Related: Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Donald Glover to star in Mr & Mrs Smith reboot

“I’m thrilled to be starting a new adventure, collaborating with a dream team of all-time great film-makers,” Mangold said in a statement. “Steven, Harrison, Kathy, Frank, and John are all artistic heroes of mine. When you add Phoebe, a dazzling actor, brilliant creative voice and the chemistry she will undoubtedly bring to our set, I can’t help but feel as lucky as Indiana Jones himself.”

The film follows 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull which received mixed reviews but made over $790m worldwide. It’s set to be the 78-year-old Ford’s final film as the adventurer.

“We’ve seen the character develop and grow over a period of time and it’s perfectly appropriate and OK for him to come back again with a great movie around him,” Ford said back in 2013.

Waller-Bridge scored acclaim and awards for her two-season comedy drama Fleabag and has franchise experience having starred in Solo: A Star Wars Story and working on the script for the upcoming 007 thriller No Time to Die. The multi-hyphenate was also recently attached to a Mr and Mrs Smith reboot series alongside Donald Glover.

The as-yet-untitled Indiana Jones sequel is set to arrive in cinemas in July 2022.