Rumours are starting up again that the Indiana Jones franchise may continue, but with Shia LaBeouf as the main star. Quotes attributed to George Lucas suggest that is what he has planned.

The rumours first started last year with Shia LaBeouf signing a three film deal. We all thought no big deal, as it doesn't necessarily mean that there will be more Indiana Jones films. Lucas film then poured water on the flames as well by saying that rumours of more films were just that.

But now George Lucas himself has started more rumours himself by saying this to MTV News, at the Cannes film festival:

I haven't even told Steven [Spielberg] or Harrison this. But I have an idea to make Shia the lead character next time and have Harrison come back like Sean Connery did in the last movie. I can see it working out.

For his part Harrison Ford had only this to say:

I have no cheeky answer for [that]. I just work here. I'm glad to work here, Till they tell me otherwise, I will continue to be Indiana Jones.

Shia LaBeouf meanwhile says that the reception of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, will determine what happens next.

Mutt's pretty wild [but] it's all about what the public feels, I know if it's received well, that's a pretty definite indicator. If it's received well, I don't imagine they would stop making them. I don't think a Mutt spin-off would be as big as Indiana Jones. [But] fingers crossed!

So there may be more films, and Harrison Ford may end up as a secondary figure to Shia LaBeouf's character. It will all depend on what people think of the most recent film. And I suppose we can't judge LaBeouf's performance until we see it.

My immediate reaction though is that Harrison Ford IS Indiana Jones. Would he really be interested in playing a sidekick role like Sean Connery did? If he did, I'm not sure I'd want to watch it...What about you?