After it was announced that an Indiana Jones Disney+ show is in development, director James Mangold reveals that two major franchise characters won't be appearing in it. Harrison Ford's iconic archeologist first appeared in Stephen Spielberg's Raiders of the Lost Ark back in 1981 and the hero has since starred in three additional sequels. Ford is next slated to play the character in Mangold's Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, which is expected to be his last time donning the fedora and cracking the bullwhip. The upcoming film features the return of John Rhys-Davies' Sallah, but also introduces new characters played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Toby Jones, and Boyd Holbrook. There are almost no details known about the Indiana Jones Disney+ show due to how early on in development it still is, but Mangold recently responded to a fan on Twitter to confirm that at least two franchise characters won't be in it. Crucially, the director reveals that Ford's archeologist won't be involved in the series, but his tweets also makes clear that neither will Waller-Bridge's Helena, who is Jones' goddaughter in the upcoming film. Check out Mangold's two tweets below: Related: Why Indy Is Fighting The Nazis A THIRD Time In Indiana Jones 5

​​​​​​Which Indiana Jones Characters Could Be In The Disney+ Show?

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

With Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny expected to be Ford's last time playing the hero, it's not necessarily surprising that the actor won't be involved in the announced show, but the reveal that Waller-Bridge's character also won't be participating opens up a number of exciting possibilities. After he starred in Everything Everywhere All At Once earlier this year, many fans would likely be happy to see Ke Huy Quan's Short Round, last seen in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, make a comeback, and the show could be the perfect opportunity for this. Quan is now 51 years old, and the series could could see Short Round set out on his very own quest, not as a sidekick, but now as the hero.

A number of characters from the Indiana Jones universe are no longer alive, including Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliot) and Henry Jones Sr. (Sean Connery), meaning the list of original characters that can appear in the show is now quite small. Rhys-Davies' Sallah could certainly return in some capacity as a supporting character, but the show may be better off introducing somebody new with a looser connection to the original franchise. Abner Ravenwood, who is only mentioned in Raiders of the Lost Ark and not seen on screen, served as Jones' mentor, of sorts, potentially making a prequel show about the Egyptologist's life an intriguing possibility.

What Could The Indiana Jones Disney+ Show Be About?

Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny looking concerned

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is expected to take place mostly in the year 1969, meaning the franchise has now firmly moved away from the 1930s era of Spielberg's original 3 films. Instead of pushing the franchise further into the future and potentially losing the atmosphere of the beloved original trilogy, the show may do well to go back in time to the 1920s, following a new character as they work to uncover an ancient mystery. While the Nazis have been ever-present Indiana Jones franchise villains, the show could introduce a new antagonistic force, potentially with the aftermath of World War I serving as a backdrop for the action.

More: Why Indiana Jones 5 Is Perfect For Harrison Ford's Final Movie

Source: James Mangold

Key Release Dates