Indiana Jones fans can look forward to the hotly awaited fourth instalment

George Lucas confirms filming will begin next year. Harrison Ford, who appeared in the three earlier chapters of the Indiana saga, is set to star again in the $175 million flick.

Lucas, who will co-produce the film with Steven Spielberg, said he and Spielberg recently finalised the script.

"It's going to be fantastic. It's going to be the best one yet," said the 62-year-old filmmaker.

Exact film locations have not been decided yet, but Lucas said part of the movie will be shot in Los Angeles.

The fourth part of the Indiana Jones story, set to hit the silver screen next autumn, has been in development for over a decade with several screenwriters having a go at penning the script, but it only recently gained momentum.

Lucas has kept quiet about the plot, but said that the latest action flick will be a "character piece" that will include "very interesting mysteries." "I think it's going to be really cool," Lucas said. Earlier this year, 64-year-old Ford said he was excited to team up with Lucas and Spielberg again for the fourth Indiana Jones installment.

Ford said he was "fit to continue" to play the title role despite his age. Star Wars beauty Natalie Portman is set to star alongside him as the hero archaeologist's daughter.

Ford played Indiana Jones in 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1984's Temple of Doom and 1989's The Last Crusade. Lucas praised Ford for breathing life into his character. "Mostly it's the charm of Harrison that makes it work," he said.