Guest Author - Tammy Cordani

Legendary Hollywood actor Sean Connery has officially stated that he will not be appearing in the upcoming action/adventure sequel, currently referred to as “Indiana Jones IV”. The fourth installment of the franchise is currently in production and will star Harrison Ford, who reprises his role as the infamous adventurer Indiana Jones, as well as Cate Blanchett, John Hurt and Shia LaBeouf. The highly anticipated movie is scheduled for a May 22nd, 2008 release.

Connery starred as Professor Henry Jones, father of the title character, in 1989’s “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”, a role which garnered him a Golden Globe nomination. He has been in a self imposed retirement from film for the last couple of years and it appears he’s not planning to change his mind anytime soon. The 76-year-old, Scottish born Connery was last seen on screen as the adventurous Allan Quatermain in 2003’s “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”.

The accomplished actor is probably best known for being the first Bond to utter “shaken, not stirred” on the silver screen. He initially appeared in six Bond films including: “Dr. No” (1961), “From Russia With Love” (1963), “Goldfinger” (1964), “Thunderball” (1965), “You Only Live Twice” (1967) and “Diamonds are Forever” (1971). He would return to the 007 role once more in 1983’s “Never Say Never Again”. Only Roger Moore has appeared in the same number of Bond movies. However, by having the distinction of being the first Bond, Connery has become the measuring stick that all other actors in the role are compared to.

After his tenure as Bond, Connery made many notable appearances in film including the war epic “A Bridge Too Far” (1977), as Lieutenant Colonel Caldwell in the action/thriller “The Presidio” (1988) and as submarine Captain Marko Ramius in the adventure “Hunt for Red October” (1990). He also strayed into the world of sci-fi when he appeared in the cult hit “Time Bandits” (1981) and in the first two “Highlander” movies opposite Christopher Lambert. Connery later went on to star in the period action/drama “First Knight” (1995) as King Arthur and as the “bad guy” in the film adaptation of “The Avengers” (1998). He didn’t leave action flicks behind, appearing as a former Alcatraz prisoner in “The Rock” (1996) with Nicolas Cage and opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones in “Entrapment” (1999). Connery has also taken on smaller roles including voicing the character of Draco, the dragon, in “Dragonheart” and an uncredited appearance in “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” as King Richard. However, it was Connery’s role as Jim Malone in the action/crime drama “The Untouchables” (1987) that garnered him the best supporting actor Oscar.

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