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Harrison Ford to Be Model for Indiana Jones Animatronic in New Animal Kingdom Ride

Disney scanned Ford’s likeness for a lifelike audio‑animatronic in a Maya‑inspired attraction that signals the company will lean on immersive parks to keep the franchise active.

Overview

  • Disney revealed at D23 in mid‑August that Harrison Ford served as the physical model for the Indiana Jones audio‑animatronic in a new Animal Kingdom attraction.
  • The ride is titled Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent and places guests alongside Indy in a Maya temple and a cenote that becomes a portal to the Maya Underworld guarded by a giant serpent called the Tsukán.
  • Imagineering showed a digital 3D model of the Ford‑based Indy figure and a large, hand‑sculpted Tsukán maquette while stonework and temple facades are already under construction on the former Dinoland site.
  • Disney says it worked with archaeologists, anthropologists, and Maya experts to shape the story, artwork, and architecture to avoid generic portrayals and give the attraction cultural grounding.
  • No official opening date or confirmation that Ford provided voice work has been released, with Disney targeting the Tropical Americas expansion for a 2027 rollout that some reports say could phase into 2028.