Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny star Phoebe Waller-Bridge compares Helena to past Indy sidekicks, explaining why her character flips one traditional dynamic. Serving as the fifth entry in the long-running franchise, Harrison Ford is set to bid farewell to his intrepid archaeologist in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Directed by James Mangold, the upcoming film sees Indy facing off against Nazis once more, this time with the help of his goddaughter Helena.
Ahead of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny's release date this summer, Waller-Bridge reveals more information about Helena in an interview with Total Film (via GamesRadar). While Helena will be similar to past Indy sidekicks in several respects, there's an aura of mystery about her that also makes her entirely different. Check out Waller-Bridge's full comment below:
"I think they really achieved something extraordinary: she fits into the canon, and she feels like there is certainly an energy that she shares with all the characters that have come before, especially with the female parts, but she is unique, and she has a fresh voice. She was somebody who was mysterious from the off. I think [Indy's] often been the mystery to those characters before, especially his female counterparts, and I think there's something really unusual in how they flip that here."
How Helena Can Improve Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Traditionally, supporting allies in Indiana Jones movies can be grouped into one of two categories: sidekicks and love interests. The love interests are female, the sidekicks are male and they both serve to help Indy on his quest in various ways. Shia LaBeouf's Mutt, Indy's son, was introduced in the divisive Indiana and the Kingdom of the Crystal, complicating this more traditional dynamic and potentially being positioned to continue the franchise after Ford's retirement, a choice that didn't sit well with all audiences.
Instead of occupying the more traditional sidekick role, Helena could potentially end up being a more complex, three-dimensional character. For as beloved as Sallah (John Rhys-Davies) and Short Round (Ke Huy Quan) are, they're arguably not fleshed out all that much. Helena in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, on the other hand, will bring her own sense of mystery to the franchise and could represent more of a wildcard, as some of her actions in the most recent trailer suggest.
Interestingly, Indy has never had a female sidekick who wasn't also a love interest before. It remains to be seen how Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will capitalize on this new dynamic, but Helena already represents an interesting shift from the more traditional aspects of the franchise. That being said, Waller-Bridge's promise that Helena also fits in nicely with the characters who have come before her suggests Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will still be sticking to its roots in some respects.
Source: Total Film (via GamesRadar)
