Ke Huy Quan has made an intense comeback to the industry with smash-hit projects such as Everything Everywhere All at Once reviving his acting career. Quan will also be debuting in the Marvel Cinematic Universe later this year in Loki season 2.
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However, one question on a lot of both Quan’s and Indiana Jones fans’ minds is if his Short Round character will appear in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny since his character first appeared in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984).
Does Ke Huy Quan’s Short Round Return In Indy 5?
Will Short Round be joining Indiana Jones one last time? Will he be making an appearance during any post-credit scenes? See what the director had to say.
Sadly, director James Mangold has confirmed that Quan’s Short Round is not a part of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. It looks like the fan-favourite character will not be coming back for the sequel.
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At least, that is what we’re all being told, it could very well be a method to get fans to believe this to save the surprise for the sequel’s official release.
However, as for now, it’s looking like Short Round will not be making an appearance. Thankfully, Quan has still managed to see the movie as he was invited to the red carpet premiere alongside Harrison Ford.
Why Isn’t Short Round In Indiana Jones 5?
While speaking to IGN about the upcoming Indy sequel, director James Mangold provides some comments as to why Short Round was excluded from the final outing of the franchise.
“We looked at all these different things, but the first thing we were trying to do was assemble a story that made sense in the present, meaning in the 1969 section of the movie.
If you notice… the only person we follow through the whole way is Indy himself. Joined by Helena [Shaw, played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge], and I felt like we needed to have a female lead who challenged him. But we looked at all these different things and tried to figure out how they would work. I just didn’t want another adult along for the ride.“
James Mangold
So, basically, it all boiled down to the director of the movie believing that the inclusion of Short Round would be one adult too many for the story.
This isn’t to say that Quan’s Short Round doesn’t have the potential to return in a future spinoff or even a possible animated project if ever there was to be one. Lucasfilm and Disney are known for branching off of large franchises to further expand on the overall story of their wide range of characters.
However, as of writing, nothing has been confirmed and as mentioned, Quan’s Short Round could very well be in the movie depending on if the cast and crew are indeed telling the truth. Something fans will just have to go and see in theatres on June 28 to find out for themselves.
Source: IGN
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny releases in theatres on June 28, 2023.
