James Mangold's Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny must fix the mistakes and dated elements of the problematic Indiana Jones movies. Alongside The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the original three movies have their fair share of issues, including some Indiana Jones racism, that must be addressed in Harrison Ford's new flick. Following Dr. Henry Jones Jr, otherwise known as Indiana Jones, the first four movies see Indy search for ancient artifacts ranging from the Holy Grail to Sankara Stones to alien crystal skulls. Along the way, he is aided by companions such as Wan Li (better known as Short Round), a young Chinese boy played by Ke Huy Quan, as well as several female love interests, including Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) and Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw). In Temple of Doom, Doctor Jones also goes up against Mola Ram (Amrish Puri), a character who has been noted to perpetuate harmful stereotypes about Indian culture and religion.

The more dated elements of the notoriously difficult Indiana Jones series have to be addressed. In 2023 the franchise simply cannot continue perpetuating harmful stereotypes about non-white races, non-Western cultures, and women. However, while these social issues are vitally important, James Mangold's Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny must also address plot, effects, and character-based issues, particularly those found in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Outside the Indiana Jones racism issues, the fourth Indy movie has been criticized for pushing the limit of believability, such as when Indy's son Mutt Williams (Shia LaBoeuf) swings through the trees alongside monkeys like Tarzan during a chase scene. Moments like this, along with Crystal Skull's infamous "nuked fridge" scene, must be ignored in favor of grounded action that is exciting without veering into pure comedy. Here's what Indiana Jones 5 needs to do to avoid the same mistakes as previous Indiana Jones movies.

Related: The Real Hidden Key To Indiana Jones' "Indy Did Nothing" Theory

Wan Li (Short Round) Can Be Redeemed

Short Round and Indiana Jones look worried in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

Indiana Jones 5 still has very few plot details, and there is still time for characters like Short Round and Marion Ravenwood to return in a cameo capacity. Though actors like Mads Mikkelsen, Antonio Banderas, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Toby Jones being listed as cast members proves that Harrison Ford will be in good company, Wan Li's return would go a long way towards redeeming the Indiana Jones racism issues surrounding Ke Huy Quan's child character in Temple of Doom. Short Round is often considered a racist stereotype of a Chinese person, as he speaks in broken English and exists mostly to spout jokes about Indy's love life.

However, the problematic Indiana Jones film does demonstrate Indy and Wan Li's tender father-son relationship, particularly after Shorty saves Indy from the voodoo doll attack. With Ke Huy Quan returning to acting with his lead role in Everything, Everywhere, All at Once, it is not impossible for Short Round to return in this movie and be represented properly this time. The latest Indiana Jones 5 footage has people wondering where Mutt is in Dial of Destiny. Since Mutt won't be in The Dial of Destiny, his absence would also make room for a young sidekick character that could be perfectly filled by Wan Li, who may have a complicated relationship with Indiana Jones as he never joined him on another adventure after Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

Mutt Williams Must Be Retconned Away

Why Shia Labeouf Mutt Williams Isnt In Indiana Jones 5

Where is Mutt in Indiana Jones 5? To put it simply, he's just not there. Indiana Jones' son Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf) introduced in The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull won't be in the next installment. Rather, it seems that Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Helena will be taking his place in the family/sidekick role. Waller-Bridge will be playing Indiana Jones's goddaughter, and based on the latest footage, she'll be the one along for the ride on Indy's next big task. There hasn't truly been a reason provided as to why LaBeouf is absent from the new Indiana Jones movie, but it probably in part is due to the fact he made disparaging comments about Crystal Skull after it was released, prompting Harrison Ford himself to rebuff the actor quite publicly.

In addition, LaBeouf is a known wildcard, whose antics on set may not be tolerated by the crew. While it's the right move to leave Mutt out of it, The Dial of Destiny has quite an issue on its hands regarding his character. The movie will have to figure out how to properly explain his absence with something other than a throwaway line. Part of Crystal Skull was Indy learning how to be a father, and now that arc has essentially been scrapped. Hopefully, The Dial of Destiny will properly explain Mutt's departure, possibly incorporating how Indy deals with his failed attempt at being a father figure.

Related: Indiana Jones 5 Needs To Clear Up One Huge Crystal Skull Plot Hole

Temple of Doom’s Racist And Sexist Stereotypes Must Be Rectified

Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in Temple of Doom and Mola Ram

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is often used as a textbook example of "Orientalism", the process of Western artists painting a fantastical vision of Eastern culture to make it seem exotic, dangerous, or otherwise sensational. Complete with a human sacrifice scene, Temple of Doom's one-note interpretation of its Indian antagonists, particularly Mola Ram, stand in contrast to the more fleshed-out white characters. This also comes in addition to using the culture's food for ignorant comedy, having Willie Scott be disgusted by eating monkey brains, for example. Mangolds' Indiana Jones 5 must avoid relying on outdated stereotypes and instead offer authentic presentations of the many cultures Indy inevitably interacts with.

One dated element that is not exclusive to Temple of Doom is the franchise's underlying misogyny. Raiders of the Lost Ark describes how Indiana Jones seduced Marion Ravenwood when she was 16, and he was 27, with her even noting "I was a child". This creates a power imbalance that is reflected throughout the movie, as Marion is constantly sexualized and used as an object of desire for every man, though Marion and Indy are portrayed more equally in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Willie Scott also embodies problematic stereotypes about women as she is portrayed as being helpless, hysterical, and generally annoying. Fortunately, Indiana Jones 5 has already taken a great step by casting Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helena, the secondary lead after Harrison Ford. Waller-Bridge is known for her feminist beliefs, and her inclusion suggests this film's representation of women will be far more progressive and realistic.

Indiana Jones 5 Must Fix Crystal Skull’s Alien Artifact Mistake

Indiana Jones Last Crusade Crystal Skull

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull infamously ended with the reveal that the crystal skulls were of alien origin. A CGI alien even kills Cate Blanchett's Irina Spalko before a UFO takes off in the movie's climax; plot points that were generally received poorly by viewers. Indiana Jones 5 must follow one simple rule and return to being about mythological artifacts such as the Ark of the Covenant, Sankara Stones, and Holy Grail of the first three movies. Archeology has always been at the heart of the Indiana Jones series, but the science fiction elements introduced at the end of Crystal Skull felt very out of place compared to the plots of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom, and The Last Crusade. While audiences know that the titular artifact in Indiana Jones 5 will be the "dial of destiny," it doesn't seem that this new artifact is actually linked to ancient history, which could create a Crystal Skull-sized problem for the new movie.

However, the most important mistake made by both Crystal Skull and Temple of Doom is that Indy has no personal stake in the Sankara Stones or crystal skulls. In Raiders of the Lost Ark he is clearly invested in finding the mythical Ark of the Covenant and the search for the Holy Grail is deeply engrained in Indy's mind after his father, Henry Jones Sr (Sean Connery), prioritized looking for it over raising Indy. As such, Indiana Jones 5 needs to make the dial of destiny personal to Indy, so that it becomes easier for the audience to invest in his adventure. James Mangold is known for delivering classics like Logan and Walk the Line. In his hands, and with these mistakes and dated elements addressed, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny could become a beloved installment in the franchise that redeems the disappointment some feel towards Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

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