Dude, the ending changing. Whether or not it how different from the original is the really the question. The only thing you can guess if they are going to reshoot the ending, that can only improve the film. Could be a step in the right direction. But it is clear that somebody wasn’t happy with ending. Here is to hoping that the reshoots improve the film. It can’t get much worse than the Crystal Skull. Williams was obviously being diplomatic. It can really only be a positive for the film.
One marketing consideration in keeping Indy alive versus dead (if that's part of the ending change) is that Harrison Ford is doing a Yellowstone prequel TV series with Taylor Sheridan. If Ford is open to doing an Indy prestige TV series ( Think more like BBC and Luther or Sherlock, versus traditional network TV like The Office) , that opens up the entire "franchise" on the small screen. Off shoots, spin offs, Young Indy, etc, etc.
For better or worse, the current entertainment industry is all about building universes and franchises. I mean Ford has to be looking at Kevin Costner and seeing what Yellowstone has done for his image, bank account and future opportunities.
It may or may not be a positive in the end, the only thing I can be certain of is that it's geared towards whatever makes the most money or the most perceived money long term.
I actually don't like Harrison Ford anymore. Tired of him mailing it in. However I would like to see the Indy series go out on a high note for all the loyal fans.
If the torch gets passed to Phoebe Waller Bridge, I'd give her future version a chance. If only because so unlike other situations like this, PBW has actually had her own self created success with creating a show. The real problems emerge when things go woke for the sake of woke, and not having some elements of woke with accomplished. Avatar 2 is like that. Some might not like Cameron's themes in the sequel, his own personal axes to grind and his own not so silent social commentary in the script, but he's actually a proven director and a proven industry success. It's not like Rings Of Power where the keys were given to a couple of randoms.
Harrison Ford in an Indy tv series, a limited version, might be interesting. I don't think there's much more room to take the character, but maybe TV is a better send off for him.
I don't think I've liked Harrison Ford since The Fugitive. I can accept he's just not a great actor ( but a pretty decent movie star) but I can't abide by the irritated entitled angry tone he takes that bleeds into his films, like he's doing everyone a favor by cashing checks worth millions of dollars to show up and pretend to be someone else. He just strikes me as someone, if he wasn't famous, would have already been killed in a bar fight that he started on his own.