Harrison Ford’s emotional farewell to Indiana Jones at D23 is hype-worthy

The first time I went to the cinema without a supervisor was to see Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, in 1984. I was 10 years old. The scene where someone’s still beating heart was ripped out of their chest was a bit more than I expected! I also later realized that the film deals with appalling racial stereotypes. That said, I still felt a strong, emotional pang of nostalgia when I saw a certain photo circulating on social media this past weekend.

The photo, taken backstage at Disney’s D23 Expo, shows Ke Huy Quan playing brave boy Short Round Temple of Deathhugs Harrison Ford. Quan was there because he was cast in Season 2 of Loki. Ford was there to show attendees the first footage Indiana Jones 5. Quan sports his usual cheeky grin, while Ford, hugging Quan’s shoulders, is beaming with undisguised delight. Quan posted the photo on his Instagram with the caption, “Indiana Jones and Short Round reunited after 38 years.” Apparently the internet has fallen in love with her.

Part of the credit for that feel-good factor is Quan’s feel-good story: he gave up acting in the 1990s but catapulted himself back into public imagination last year at the age of 50 Everything everywhere at once. But more often than not, it’s stirred up by the shock of the legendaryly dour and reclusive 80-year-old screen icon Ford – whose screen ranges range from “annoyed” to “amused but slightly annoyed” to “very concerned and also annoyed”. – actually looks happy. In the public. While you press!

This was just the beginning. On stage, a shaky but sparkling Ford stunned audiences by being almost brought to tears as he thanked them for their support, predicted this “amazing” film would “kick ass” and seemed speechless when he co-star Phoebe praised Waller-Bridge’s “heart.” It wasn’t until the very end that he regained his famed composure, when he confirmed that this would be the last time he played the legendary adventurer. “I’m very happy to be back, maybe because of…no, maybe not. That’s it! I will not fall down for you again!”

It was a sharp contrast to the man who, when asked by Jimmy Fallon if he had gotten emotional while slipping back into his other iconic role, Han Solo, for Star Wars: The Force AwakensHe replied, “No, I got paid.” Although they’re both pulp adventure heroes and both created by George Lucas, for some reason Solo has always brought out Ford’s irascible side (he says he advocated the character ” for 30 years”) while talking about Doctor Jones with much more warmth. “For me, what was interesting about the character was that he asserted himself, that he had courage, that he had wit, that he had intelligence, that he was scared and yet he still managed to survive,” he told The in 2013 Telegraph. “I can do that.”

It can be a challenge to rejoice in yet another attempt to revitalize a famous franchise from the intellectual property vault. Disney in particular has made this almost the sole business model in recent years. But it feels like there’s a good reason to care Indiana Jones 5: Harrison Ford cares. He obviously cares a lot. In his eyes, this character – and definitely not Han Solo – is his legacy. Perhaps in James Mangold, who so memorably concluded Hugh Jackman’s time as Wolverine logan, he found the director with the sensitivity for it. Perhaps in Waller-Bridge he found the younger echo the character needs. Maybe he just wants Indy to have a better epitaph than Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. Even without seeing the footage shown at D23, it finally feels possible to hope he gets it.

Indiana Jones 5which does not yet have a final title, will be released on June 30, 2023.