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Harrison Ford Modeled for Indiana Jones Animatronic at Animal Kingdom

Disney revealed a Ford‑scanned Indy figure and a massive hand‑sculpted serpent to anchor the Tropical Americas expansion, signaling a move to park‑first storytelling.

Overview

  • At D23 on Aug. 15–16, 2026, Disney and Lucasfilm unveiled Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent and showed a digital 3D model and physical prototype elements for the ride.
  • Harrison Ford confirmed in a prerecorded message that he served as the direct model for the attraction’s Indiana Jones audio‑animatronic, though Disney has not said whether he will provide the character’s voice.
  • The ride’s original, Maya‑inspired story places riders with Indy in a temple beside a cenote and sends them through a portal to the Maya Underworld to confront a giant serpentine creature called the Tsukán and hazards like bats, scorpions, fire and snakes.
  • Walt Disney Imagineering emphasized practical, physical effects by revealing a hand‑sculpted, oversized Tsukán animatronic, said the temple build is already under way, and reported consulting archaeologists, anthropologists and Maya experts for cultural accuracy.
  • The attraction is part of the Tropical Americas land that Disney is targeting to begin opening in 2027 with a phased rollout into spring 2028, but no formal opening date for the ride has been announced and timing remains uncertain.