TheIndiana Jonesmovies have   a trouble with their   sidekicks , and this   will inevitably force a francise reboot of some kind . Played by Harrison Ford , the character of Indiana Jones   was first introduced in 1981’sRaiders of the Lost Ark , a massively successful   movie   that has so far earned   four sequels — the latest   of which is on its room in June 2023   — plus   a prequel boob tube series , The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles . Over his 10 - farseeing tenure on projection screen around the world ,   Indiana Jones has become iconic thanks in part to his instantly recognisable accoutrement .

While   Indiana Jones ’s fedora and bullwhip are two thing that he ’s seldom seen without , his movies   also give him another veritable accessory : a buddy . Jones typically   shares his adventures with at least one or two supporting fictional character . InRaiders of the Lost Ark , he   has Sallah , an Egyptian acquaintance who may or may not unwittingly helpIndiana Jones cause World War II . InIndiana Jonesand the Temple of Doom , he has young   Short Round by his side , and inIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull , he has his son , Mutt . Indiana Jones and the Last Crusadesees the nominal adventurer traveling again with Sallah , as well as colleague Marcus Brody , who was also fromRaiders of the Lost Ark ,   plus his own founder , Henry Jones Sr .

Related : Indiana Jones 5 ’s Time Travel Could Flip The Franchise ’s Ending Trope

A collage image of Luke Skywalker in A New Hope

The   problem with   all of these   sidekick   character reference   is that , by   not having Indiana Jones study systematically   with any one mortal , each of the roles   is   underwritten . It   also means that there ’s no logical replacement to be the franchise ’s next booster , and that make anIndiana Jonesrebootalmost an inevitableness . The upcomingIndiana Jones 5will purportedly   be Harrison Ford ’s last outing as the character , and as the dealership ’s lack of a even sidekick leave no room for any easy   bequest sequels , Paramount will most in all likelihood be force to just resume the whole matter .

The Indiana Jones Franchise’s Sidekick Problem Explained

The trouble with the   pal character in theIndiana Jonesfranchise is subtle . private supporting characters in the motion-picture show have their respective issues to vary degree , but at last , the biggest matter of disceptation is that none of these chum can replace Indiana Jones . As each picture   has acquaint its own supporting characters , with only Sallah   ( played by John Rhys - Davies ) and original love interest Marion Ravenwood ( Karen Allen ) join the hero in his adventures   more than once , none of theIndiana Jonessupporting character can really match its protagonist ’s own seniority .

TheIndiana Jonesfranchise ’s sidekick   characters divvy up few similarity , but the things they do have in vulgar are important . Because the titular archaeologist is the focal point of the movies , he ’s always their biggest champion — owe , in part , to Harrison Ford ’s undeniable personal appeal — and   this itself is a concern . With one exception   being   Henry Jones Sr . ( the late Sean Connery ) , none of the sidekicks has   prove to be as resourceful as Indiana Jones   himself , creating a franchise - wide-eyed problem where no other existing character could conceivably step into the lead lieu and don the fedora .

Short Round Was Comic Relief, Not A Hero

Short Round , portray by long - absent former child actor Ke Huy Quan , is the enfranchisement ’s most obvious sidekick . InIndiana Jones and the Temple of Doom , the character   is shown to be intelligent and clever , but he ’s predominantly used for comedic issue throughout the movie . While this works well within that initial follow - up , Short Round ’s amusing role does n’t set him up to ever become the typeface of the franchise .

colligate : How Indiana Jones create The PG-13 Rating

WhileIndiana Jones 5owes Short Round justice , it ’s not potential that he   can ever take over the franchise . Having only appeared once in 1984’sIndiana Jones and theTemple of Doom , the eccentric suddenly returning to lead the movies going forward would make very minuscule sense . Had Short Round been pass on a more robust role as Indiana Jones ’s   sidekick , he could have potentially taken over from his one - clip mentor , but as it stands , he ’s little more than the one - blastoff comic relief in the second picture .

Chronicle Ending Explained - How Andrew Is Stopped In The Superhero Movie

Mutt Williams Was A Poor Substitute For Indiana Jones

After neglecting Short Round , theIndiana Jonesfranchise find a new way to reinforce its chum problem : unsound composition . Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skullis by far the bad of the dealership , and one of its most egregious   aspects is the character of Mutt Williams , wager by   Shia LaBeouf . AlthoughShia LaBeouf ’s return forIndiana Jones 5is unlikely , Indiana Jones and theKingdom of the Crystal Skullclearly create a   surprise issue of the master character and his original beloved interest as a potential literal heir   to   take over the   franchise .

The picture of Mutt Williams impart a lot to be trust , unfortunately , with the sequel   making him an objectionable Indiana Jones clone with none of Harrison Ford ’s stylemark charm . Ultimately , he ’s   an underwhelming sidekick   who   simply is n’t worthy to stay the franchise , and Shia LaBeouf ’s off - projection screen behavior makes it even less plausible   that he ’ll ever repeat the role at all . Mutt Williams was the first and only material attempt that the franchise has made at introduce a successor to Indiana Jones as a bequest character , and the result   was disastrous .

Indiana Jones Is Too Iconic For A Stand-In

TheIndiana Jonesfranchise is , naturally , built around its   titular chief character . Although the role ofIndiana Jones should n’t ever be recast , Harrison Ford ’s age will , before long , prevent him from bear on as the lead in these movies . While Indiana Jones and Ford are much synonymous with one another , the quality is   so subservient to the dealership ’s winner that supervene upon its namesake   with another character , even one see in the moving-picture show before , is practically unthinkable .

come to : How Indiana Jones ' Daughter Became Mutt Williams

Replacing Indiana Jones is an impossible effort . AsIndiana Jones and theKingdom of the Crystal Skullproved , attempts to introduce a outdoor stage - in only highlight how unreplaceable Indy is , and the melodic theme of the franchise go on without him in it is something that simply seems wrong . It ’s entirely potential thatIndiana Jonescould   take theRocky / Creedroute and spinoff to shift focus away from its aging admirer , but this would be a big risk , particularly as there ’s no existing logical pick among the patronage character for a raw nerve of the enfranchisement .

Sidious, Tyranus, Maul, and Vader.

Why The Indiana Jones Franchise Will Be Forced To Reboot

AsIndiana Jones 5will probably end its main fibre ’s   story , the movie   also may well be the end of the enfranchisement as rooter know it . However , a graphic symbol as iconic — and profitable — as Indiana Jones is n’t one   that Hollywood will ever simply retire , and so Paramount a continuing   the franchise in some strain is practically a break . Exactly what this would look like is n’t clear , but if theIndiana Jonesfranchise ’s sidekick problem is anything to go by , the series   will most probably front a reboot .

With no existing type to organically take Indiana Jones ’s place at the head of the franchise , the want of   a long-lasting and well - written crony might now become a problem for the archaeologist - venturer . The only way to realistically continue the enfranchisement ’s tarradiddle is to boot it in one way or another and allow Indiana Jones himself to continue his eponymic franchise , with another histrion under the fedora . Still , had theIndiana Jonesfranchise not had so many problem with its sidekick characters , the at hand reboot might have been annul .

Next : Indiana Jones 5 Is Finally come - But It Has To Be The End ( For Now )

Blended image of Indiana Jones and Short Round

Indiana jones 5 Owes Short Round Justice After Crystal Skull mistake Mutt

Short round Indiana jones and the temple of doom

indiana jones 5 why Shia labeouf mutt williams needs to return

Indiana Jones grabbing treasure in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Indiana Jones franchise needs a reboot Harrison Ford

Movies

Indiana Jones