The Hollywood Reporter is claiming that Academy Award-winning thespian Cate Blanchett has signed on to star in the eagerly anticipated fourth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise, set for release in May 2008. It's not yet known what role Blanchett is to play, but there's really only one female role in the Indy movies, and that's "Chick Who Gets to Make Out with the Hottest Archaeologist EVER."

Cate Blanchett is a fine, fine actress, so the news of her being cast in this film seems a little strange to me. I mean, let's look at the other actresses who've shacked up with Indiana Jones in the past:

Karen Allen, who has been in Starman, Scrooged, Animal Behavior and uh... an episode of "Law and Order," I think.

Kate Capshaw, who doesn't actually have to work since she married gazillionaire Steven Spielberg.

Allison Doody, whose biggest role since Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was in Major League II, and whose last name is Doody, for crying out loud.

And now Cate Blanchett. Big score for Spielberg, who is directing the film, and for Harrison Ford, who I am pretty sure has been sleeping in a box under a bridge for the last few years. I hope Cate doesn't class up the franchise too much - I enjoy my Indiana Jones with a heaping side dish of cheesy goodness. Runaway mine cart, anyone?