4 Attachment(s)
Indiana Jones 5 Reveal May Destroy Your Short Round Return Hopes
Audiences should abandon hope that Short Round will return for Indiana Jones 5. Short Round (Ke Huy Quan) appears in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom as Indy's orphaned sidekick. Short Round and Indy (Harrison Ford) have a father-son relationship to rival that of Indy and his biological son, Mutt, in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Temple of Doom was a prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Short Round hasn't appeared in any other Indiana Jones films. With Indiana Jones 5 coming out next year and set to be the final film in the franchise, some hoped Short Round would return in a surprise cameo.
That doesn't seem to be the case, however. Ke Huy Quan revealed in an interview with journalist and author Kyle Buchanan that he and Ford reunited at D23 Expo for the first time in 38 years. Quan told Buchanan, "The last time he saw me, I was a little kid." Unless Quan's description of the event is completely fabricated, this leaves little room for a Short Round cameo in Indiana Jones 5, which is disappointing for a number of reasons.
Why Indiana Jones 5 Should Bring Back Short Round
It's not initially clear what happens to Short Round after Temple of Doom, but the comics explain that Indiana Jones took Short Round to a boarding school in the U.S.A. The two did go on a few more adventures together, however, so it seems like they stayed in contact. It would be hard to believe they didn't since Short Round and Indiana's relationship is the heart of Temple of Doom. Film audiences don't get to see this continued relationship, so it would be a nice addition to Indiana Jones 5. It would also give the filmmakers a chance to rectify some of the racist stereotypes surrounding Short Round in Temple of Doom.
Could Short Round Still Return In Indiana Jones 5?
There is still a small chance that Short Round will return. Quan could be a good liar and the story he told Buchanan was actually a recounting of his and Ford's reunion on set for the emotional Indiana Jones finale, not at D23 Expo. It's also possible Short Round appears in the film, but not in a scene with Indy. He could send Indy a letter, or they could talk on the phone, neither of which would necessitate the actors being together. While filming for Indiana Jones 5 wrapped in February 2022, it won't be released until June 30, 2023, so there is plenty of time for Short Round to be added in reshoots.
Short Round could also appear portrayed by a different actor, but this seems unlikely. The Indiana Jones franchise doesn't recast characters, and considering Quan's resurging acting career, doing so would be a major slight to him. As of now, the only Indiana Jones character (other than Indy) announced to return for Indiana Jones 5 is Sallah (John Rhys-Davies). The cast is obviously lacking Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood, who marries Indiana Jones at the end of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Surprise cameos are almost bound to happen in Indiana Jones 5, so while an appearance from Ke Huy Quan as Short Round seems unlikely at this point, it's not impossible.
