Summary

Rumors point toward Disney wanting to completely reboot the Indiana Jones franchise.
Rather than rebooting the franchise, Indiana Jones can live on through a Short Round series or movie.
Ke Huy Quan, who played Short Round, has the skill and experience to lead a new chapter in the Indiana Jones franchise.

The Indiana Jones series kicked off in 1981 with Raiders 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 with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny in 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 the Indiana Jones franchise may be in for a reboot, but the perfect path forward for the franchise is already clear.

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By Ollie Tuscarny

Disney Doesn't Want To Let Indiana Jones Go Dormant

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was met with middling reviews and underperformed at the box office. It was fighting an uphill battle from the start as it followed the lackluster Kingdom 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's troubles, Disney knows that the brand is a profitable IP, as even without Ford, the character thrives in new stories like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Never one to shy away from dollar signs, recent rumors claim that Disney is dead set on bringing Indiana Jones back 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 and Troy Baker making the character their own in their respective outings as Jones. Ultimately, though, the franchise doesn't need a reboot to continue.

Indiana Jones Doesn't Need A Reboot; It Needs A Short Round Spinoff

While an Indiana Jones reboot 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 voicing Jones in The 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 of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in 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 returned to the franchise. However, the character's presence proved so effective that the franchise attempted to copy the dynamic to lackluster results in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull with Shia LaBeouf's Mutt, and The Dial of Destiny with Ethann Isidore's Teddy.

There is existing lore that can be built upon for new stories, much of which comes from the comic book The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones that ran from 1982 to 1985. Following the events of The 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 in Indiana Jones lore 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 lauded Everything Everywhere All At Once, earning him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Quan then found himself with a standout role in Loki season 2, holding his own alongside Tom Hiddleston. He also recently led the action romance Love Hurts, which saw him playing a quirky guy with John Wick-like fighting skills. Love Hurts missed at the box office, but highlighted Quan's physical skill, which could be helpful for a Disney+ series or 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 from The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles TV series. This would give the Indiana Jones franchise 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 an Indiana Jones reboot, 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.

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