Actor Harrison Ford has denied reports his Indiana Jones sidekick Shia LaBeouf will replace his role as the action hero in a new installment of the franchise film.

LaBeouf starred alongside the 66-year-old actor as the whip-cracker's young friend Mutt Williams.

And the Star Wars actor insists there are no plans for the young star to take on the role he made famous, despite the open ending in summer blockbuster Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Ford brushed off the rumours, sparked after he passed the archaeologist's trademark hat to LaBeouf's character, alluding to the switch.

He tells Moviefone: "No, that's never been (the idea)... I think it just doesn't work that way. And there's definitely a distinction between passing the fedora and someone picking it up."