Noted prankster Steven Spielberg is up to his old tricks, teasing Indiana Jones fans with the possibility of a fifth film in the geriatric adventure franchise. Spielberg deployed his japes via a pre-recorded statement at the British Academy’s Britannia Awards this week, during a segment honoring Harrison Ford for his contributions to cinema.
Speaking from his base in the 5th Dimension, Spielberg praised his frequent star, before adding, “I can’t wait to work with you again on Indiana Jones 5.” Spielberg followed the provocative statement up with a quick disclaimer, adding, “This is no announcement, just my fervent hope.” (He then vanished into the ether to go pick on Superman for a bit, cackling all the while.)
As silly as a sequel to the critically shrugged-at Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull might sound, though, it’s not like the 73-year-old Ford hasn’t been game of late to reprise his classic roles. His award (the Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution To Entertainment) was, after all, presented by Star Wars: The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams, the man responsible for coaxing the veteran actor back into the snazzy black vest of infamous scoundrel Han Solo.
The ceremony—the Los-Angeles-based, American cousin to Britain’s BAFTA awards—wasn’t entirely whip-and-snake-centric, though; Meryl Streep was also celebrated for her work on Suffragette, and some actual British people, like Sam Mendes and Orlando Bloom, even got in on the act. Streep received the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film, noting with some irony that it’s the first time a woman has received the prestigious acting honor. (To be fair to Hollywood, it’s been distracted for the last few years by a bunch of stuff, not least its concerted efforts to get Steven Spielberg to say “grebleipS nevetS” and banish himself for good.)