In the first of what promises to be a deluge of deals connected with the fourth Indiana Jones feature film, Scholastic has been awarded publishing rights to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, set for release on May 22, 2008.

Scholastic’s Indiana Jones tie-in publishing program will include four movie novelizations – one for each of the three original films and the upcoming one. Each book will contain an eight-page color insert that showcases photo stills from the corresponding film. The first three books roll out to mass retail on May 1, 2008 with the final being released day-and-date with the latest instalment of the franchise.

Harrison Ford is back in the saddle as the enigmatic Indy with Cate Blanchett, Shia LaBeouf and John Hurt joining the cast of The Lucasfilm production helmed by Steven Spielberg and distributed by Paramount Pictures.