Summary
TheIndiana Jonesseries kicked off in 1981 withRaiders of the Lost Ark, a classic adventure tale from director Steven Spielberg. the film introduced Harrison Ford’s portrayal as the professor and archeologist whose quest for ancient relics saw him embroiled in numerous high-stakes stories. Since its release, the franchise has expanded in several new ways, with comic books, a TV series, and even video games, like the recent hit,Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
Despite the movie franchise’s success, it ended withIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destinyin 2023. Harrison Ford returned to the role one last time, giving Jones a final send-off, but his age also made it the last time he would likely embody the adventuring hero. With the franchise having barely had time to rest, Disney reportedly wants more. Recent rumors say that theIndiana Jonesfranchise may be in for a reboot, but the perfect path forward for the franchise is already clear.
Disney Doesn’t Want To LetIndiana JonesGo Dormant
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destinywas metwith middling reviews and underperformed at the box office. It was fighting an uphill battle from the start as it followed the lacklusterKingdom of the Crystal Skull.It was also the first entry in the franchise not directed by Spielberg, though James Mangold is not a bad backup filmmaker to have at the helm. The sequel’s production was already riddled with reported issues that necessitated reshoots to tweak the ending and other elements.
Despite Dial of Destiny’stroubles, Disney knows that the brand is a profitable IP, as even without Ford, the character thrives in new stories likeIndiana Jones and the Great Circle. Never one to shy away from dollar signs, recent rumors claim that Disney is dead set on bringingIndiana Jonesback to the big screen, rebooting the franchise for a new generation.
A complete reboot would see the same character played by a new, younger actor. Many would consider this sacrilege, even with actors like Sean Patrick Flanery andTroy Baker making the character their ownin their respective outings as Jones. Ultimately, though, the franchise doesn’t need a reboot to continue.
Indiana JonesDoesn’t Need A Reboot; It Needs A Short Round Spinoff
While anIndiana Jonesreboot could prove lucrative for Disney, it risks alienating long-time fans.Numerous names, like Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, and Chris Evans, have been floated as possible Harrison Ford replacements. However, many have trouble imagining another actor in the role. Even when Troy Baker is voicingJones inThe Great Circle, the character’s appearance is modeled after Ford, with other iterations inspired by his performance. Still, it further proves that a reboot could be problematic, especially when there is a character and actor whom fans would love to see continue the franchise.
With the release ofIndiana Jones and the Temple of Doomin 1984, audiences were introduced to Ke Huy Quan’s Short Round.The child character plays a cohort of Jones, who is along for the ride in the movie. While their friendship could have used a bit more fleshing out,Short Round never returnedto the franchise. However, the character’s presence proved so effective that the franchise attempted to copy the dynamic to lackluster results inKingdom of the Crystal Skullwith Shia LaBeouf’s Mutt, andThe Dial of Destinywith Ethann Isidore’s Teddy.
There is existing lore that can be built upon for new stories, much of which comes from the comic bookThe Further Adventures of Indiana Jonesthat ran from 1982 to 1985. Following the events ofThe Temple of Doom, Short Round attended boarding school in the United States, and kept in touch with Jones. Short Round even assisted in further adventures, including rescuing Jones following his discovery of Atlantis and aiding in his search for Sasquatch. The final mention of the character inIndiana Joneslore was in 1957, when he was in Hawaii, continuing Jones' search for the Peacock’s Eye.
Ke Huy Quan Would Be Perfect For A Short Round Series Or Movie
After retiring from acting to work behind the scenes, Quan burst back onto the scene in 2022 with the laudedEverything Everywhere All At Once, earning him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Quan then found himself with astandout role inLokiseason 2, holding his own alongside Tom Hiddleston. He also recently led the action romanceLove Hurts, which saw him playing a quirky guy with John Wick-like fighting skills.Love Hurtsmissed at the box office, buthighlighted Quan’s physical skill, which could be helpful for a Disney+ seriesor even a movie featuring Short Round.
The story could easily see Short Round raised under Jones’s guidance, with small moments that tie it back to the larger film franchise.It could focus on his search for the Peacock’s Eye, not only continuing his story, but further fleshing out a tale that fans may know fromThe Young Indiana Jones ChroniclesTV series. This would give theIndiana Jonesfranchise the perfect way to continue with a new protagonist that fans already love, knowing he’ll carry on the spirit of the character.
With many fans already responding negatively to the rumor of anIndiana Jonesreboot, the news of the Short Round series led by Ke Huy Quan would prove a better option. It offers the opportunity to play into aspects many long-time fans would rather see.
