Indiana Jones 5 is actually happening

Steven Spielberg will also be back to direct, having headed up all the previous four films.

"Indiana Jones is one of the greatest heroes in cinematic history, and we can't wait to bring him back to the screen in 2019," said Alan Horn, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios.

"It's rare to have such a perfect combination of director, producers, actor and role, and we couldn't be more excited to embark on this adventure with Harrison and Steven."

Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall will produce the film, which is slated to hit the big screen on July 19, 2019.

Indy was introduced to audiences in 1981's classic Raiders of the Lost Ark, and returned in sequels Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989).

The character returned in 2008's poorly-received Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Rumours of a fifth film or rebooted series had circulated since Disney bought the rights to the series from Paramount back in 2013.

Last year, there was talk of Chris Pratt being cast in the lead role in a series reboot, and he said he would not be intimidated by the project.

Producer Kathleen Kennedy confirmed plans for a sequel last May, and Frank Marshall said in October that Indy's role would not be recast.

That was not long after Spielberg suggested that Ford was already on board to make a fifth movie in the series, also calling him "irreplaceable" in the role.

The director later spoke of his "fervent hope" that a fifth film would happen and Ford said that he would "love" to return to offer fans a "rollicking good movie ride".

Earlier this year, John Rhys-Davies told Digital Spy that he would love to return in a fifth movie as Indy's ally Sallah.

He played the character in  Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade , but turned down a cameo in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

The four Indiana Jones movies have whipped in almost $2 billion at the global box office in total.