Harrison Ford has told Sky News that playing a character who spans generations has been a “boon” to his career.

The star returns as Indiana Jones for the fifth and final time in Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny.

Speaking at the UK premiere for the film he explained how special the role has been to him.

“There aren’t too many roles that anybody plays for so long,” he admitted.

“I mean, it’s kind of silly, it’s 42 years we’ve been going on with this. But the reason for that, I think, is because these are family films and they’re passed on from generation to generation of young people when their parents feel it’s the right time.

“And that’s exposed me, and this film, and these characters, to a new generation of [audiences] and that’s been a boon to my career.”

The film is out in cinemas on Wednesday – and, as a Disney property, will make its way to Disney Plus in the future.

But Ford doesn’t want to people to wait – and hopes most will experience it in cinemas before watching it on TV.

“I want people to go to the theatre and see this movie – for the first time at least,” he said.

“A place away from their lives where they can enjoy the incredible experience with strangers because it just strips away the differences when we’re watching the same thing and feeling the same thing.

“There’s no conflict, it’s a way to feel your common humanity and expose your children to an experience with people you’re not mad at or scared of.”

‘It’s very meaningful’

For those joining the franchise, the opportunity – and privilege – to work on Ford’s last “Indi” isn’t lost on them.

“It had a real gravitas, the whole experience, actually,” Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who plays the archaeologist’s god-daughter, told Sky News.

“And even when we were doing the sort of madcap fun stuff every now and again, it would hit us that this is the last adventure he’s going to go on.

“It’s very meaningful, and I think it’s very obvious how meaningful it is to Harrison – we were all on that journey with him, so it’s a real privilege.”

While Mads Mikkelsen, who plays the villain of the film, says that during filming there were some moments that left everyone feeling a bit teary.

“When he hung up his hat it was quite emotional for all of us,” he explained.

“We were all there for the last take, the last scene, and so we applauded and, humble as he is, he just wants to leave, he just wants to get out of there.

“But it was a big part of him that wanted to stay there for a thousand years as well, so that was quite beautiful.”

The End?

While there is no doubt Ford is leaving the franchise, there does seem to be a question mark over whether it’s really the last time we’ll hear from Indiana Jones altogether.

The adventurer certainly has form for returning – 1989’s Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade even had the word “last” in the title, but still wasn’t the final film.

With Waller-Bridge’s character having such a big part in this new movie, she seems like an obvious choice to perhaps carry the films forward.

But the actress herself isn’t so sure.

“Oh no, I took this film because I wanted to be in THIS film,” she said.

Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny is out in UK cinemas on Wednesday