Why Indiana Jones 5 didn’t bring back Ke Huy Quan’s Short Round

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny director James Mangold has opened up about why Ke Huy Quan’s Short Round wasn’t brought back for the sequel.

The actor originally rose to fame playing the character in 1984’s Temple of Doom, and has had a career renaissance in the last year after starring in Everything Everywhere All at Once, earning him an Oscar.

While there had been hope that he would return for the new Indy sequel, Mangold revealed to IGN that there wasn’t discussion about bringing Short Round back, as he didn’t serve a purpose for Indiana Jones in this story.

Related: Indiana Jones 5 producer confirms time travel theory

“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,” he said.

“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.”

Related: Indiana Jones 5 has set an unwanted record ahead of release

However, Mangold did praise Quan’s return to the spotlight, adding: “It’s also thrilling what he’s done this year, and I’m so happy for him to have suddenly found an entirely new picture to assert both his acting talent and his incredible martial arts skill.”

The Oscar-winner himself spoke back in April about the prospect of coming back to the franchise, telling Entertainment Tonight that he wouldn’t be returning, even while he has reunited with co-star Harrison Ford in public.

“I want to say [yes], but no,” he said. “Here’s the thing. I don’t want to disappoint the fans. I’ve joked about it all the time, but reuniting with Harrison after 38 years, that was very special.”

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is released in UK cinemas on June 28 and in US cinemas on June 30.

Universal/Paramount Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures [Blu-ray] [1981] [Region Free]

Paramount Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

Paramount Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Paramount Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Paramount Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Paramount Home Entertainment The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones, Volume 1 [DVD](1992)

Paramount The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones Vol.2 (9 Disc Box Set) [1992] [DVD]

Universal Pictures/Paramount Home Entertainment The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones Vol.3 (10-Disc-Set) [DVD]

Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International.  Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every ‘t’ and dotting every ‘i’ as a sub-editor.