Bringing the early 20th century to life, THE ADVENTURES OF YOUNG INDIANA JONES combines breathtaking photography, cutting edge production and family-friendly fun with a meticulous attention to historical detail. Creator George Lucas’ dream was of a series that could make history exciting for younger viewers.

 

“I wanted young people to realize that history is really about people more than it’s about events,” said Lucas. “I wanted to show that those people are jus t like we are, regardless of their impact on philosophy, music, religion and culture. And Indy’s childhood was a natural vehicle for the kinds o f stories I had envisioned.”

 

Lucas was joined in his ambitious endeavor by Rick McCallum, who produced the massive, globe-trotting production with its impressive array of international actors, writers and directors. Though they were experimenting with untried new techniques in digital filmmaking, Lucas insisted that all principal photography take place on location in over 35 countries.

 

“It was important to George that audiences experience the countries where the actual events took place,” said McCallum. “He didn’t want the series to have an American point of view, so we hired directors from all over the world. And although the network objected to subtitles on television, George insisted that young Indy speak the native language of each country he visited. We really wanted to intrigue young people with the notion that the world is made up of all kinds of different cultures and viewpoints.”

 

But the TV incarnation of George’s vision was just the beginning.

 

In 2007, nearly 15 years after the series debuted on ABC, Young Indy was released on DVD, accompanied on his journey through history by 94 companion documentaries, professorial lectures, games and an interactive timeline.

 

“Fiction is a great way to spark interest in fact, and these collections should provide a fun way to get a glimpse into some really fascinating historical events,” said Lucas. “With so much material to enhance the experience, the DVD documentaries really make the package complete.”

 

The extensive complementary materials were produced by the Lucasfilm documentary unit, headed by CBS News veteran David Schneider, who worked for more than four years on the project. The documentaries enrich the episodes with insights from scholars, historians and luminaries from all disciplines, including exclusive interviews with Gen. Colin Powell, Henry Kissinger, Gloria Steinem, Martin Scorsese, Barbara Boxer, James Earl Jones, Sir Martin Gilbert, Hal David, Deepak Chopra, Frank McCourt, Tony Judt and many more.

 

“The great thing about this series is that Young Indy’s adventures are drawn from the true stories of people and events that are surprisingly dramatic,” said Schneider. “History does come alive and it’s fascinating to learn how the triumphs and failures of those who came before us are directly connected to our lives today. It was a privilege to be part of this ambitious project and we hope that Young Indy’s adventures and the historical documentaries will entertain and enlighten audiences of all ages for many years to come.”