The current state of Hollywood blockbusters is not one where an actor comes to define a role, but rather where the character on screen determines the box office, and, if successful, the direction of the franchise. The 007 films have been doing it for a while and it’s worked pretty well for them. Now, with veteran actor Harrison Ford approaching the day he’s no longer able to crack the whip, Disney and Lucasfilm might be considering a James Bond approach to the franchise. One actor they have in mind for the archaeologist adventurer? Disney’s resident raccoon (voice) Bradley Cooper. Hit the jump for more.

[Update: The folks over at /Film have a separate, “high-placing” source who claims that this entire story is untrue. So to recap: nobody knows anything.]

Latino-Review reports that their sources indicate that Cooper is at the top of list for Indiana Jones should Ford not be up for it. Keep in mind that no deal has been offered and no negotiations have taken place. At the moment, Cooper’s is just a name at the top of a wish list, but Latino-Review’s Cooper scoops have been pretty solid to date.

A few months back, we reported that Indiana Jones 5 was not to be expected for two to three years, which puts Ford between 74 and 76 years old, depending on when it gets rolling. Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn’s comment at the time was that they didn’t have a story. Well, if the story of James Bond-ing the Indy franchise turns out to be true, there’s a lot more leeway with a younger Dr. Jones leading the film. The presumed hand-off that was supposed to occur in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was likely derailed for a number of reasons, not least of which the film’s poor reception (and perhaps moreso due to the fact that Shia LaBeouf “isn’t famous anymore”). As for that story Horn was talking about, the report also has word on an idea being pitched by Frank Darabont, so perhaps the Oscar-nominated writer will take another crack at it.

Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments below, as to whether or not Ford should soldier on, if James Bond-ing the role is a good idea, if Cooper fits the mold, and if Darabont should get another try.