The filmmakers behind “Indiana Jones” are real-life tomb raiders, a lawsuit says.
An archaeologist from Belize is suing Lucasfilm for featuring a replica of a stolen Mayan “crystal skull” in its most recent sequel, starring Harrison Ford.
Scientist Jaime Awe claims Hollywood hot shots used a model of the swiped Belizean relic in the 2008 flick, “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” to rake in “illegal profits.”
Awe, who is suing on behalf of the Central American country, demands the company fork over a portion of the movie’s $768 million profit to his homeland.
The 5-inch artifact was snatched from an altar by a treasure-hunting family more than 80 years ago, according to the suit, and is said to have “magical” powers.
Awe, who is a director at the Institute of Archaeology of Belize, now claims Belize holds the rights to the skull “and its likeness.”
He said in court papers he wants to “stop the looting and unauthorized use of [the country’s] cultural material.”
Walt Disney Company, which owns rights to the movie, is also named in the lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in Northern Illinois on Dec. 5.
Awe also demands the family of F.A. Mitchell-Hedges and his daughter Anna, who the suit alleges stole the artifact from the temple of Lubaantun in 1924, return it to Belize.
Neither Awe nor a representative from Lucasfilm responded to requests for comment.