The American premiere of the fifth part in the Indiana Jones film franchise took place at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood on Wednesday.
And while there was no shortage of stars on the red carpet for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, a recent Oscar-winning actor had a surprise reunion with Harrison Ford, the man behind the role of famed archaeologist and adventurer, Indiana Jones.
In a tribute to his Indiana Jones family, Ke Huy Quan made it a point to spend time with the longtime protagonist in front of the cameras, in a sweet and emotional moment for the two actors.
Quan was only 12 years old when he made his debut as a professional actor nearly 40 years ago, playing the role of Short Round in Indiana Jones And The Temple of Doom (1984).
Fans will remember him as the young orphaned sidekick, piloting the 1936 Auburn Boat Tail Speedster that allows Indy to escape during the opening sequence.
Reunited: Recent Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan reunites with Harrison Ford at the Los Angeles premiere of Indiana Jones and The Dial Of Destiny on Wednesday, 40 years after they starred together in Temple of The Doom
As fans watched from just off the red carpet, Quan, now 51, put his arms around Ford with a beaming smile on his face, decked out in a black suit with a red shirt.
Equally beaming with pride, Ford was also visibly moved by the moment, just three months after his former co-star won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in Everything Everywhere All At Once.
His riveting role as Waymond Wang followed a nearly 20-year hiatus from acting, where he worked as a stunt choreographer and assistant director.
Seizing the heartfelt moment, Ford and Quan could be seen answering questions from entertainment journalists on the red carpet.
For Temple Of the Doom, Quan was chosen by director Steven Spielberg to play Short Round after a lengthy search through approximately 6,000 children to find the perfect child actor.
The native of Saigon, South Vietnam actually went to an audition with his brother for the first sequel to Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981), as a show of support, according to Movie web.
But the casting director saw the potential in Quan, not his brother, and asked him to read for the character as well.
He eventually landed the deal for the role of Short Round after Spielberg viewed footage from his audition.
Emotional: Ford and Quan capitalized on the heartfelt moment and answered questions from entertainment journalists on the red carpet
Glowing: The two former colleagues had their first reunion last September at the D23 expo, where Ford congratulated Quan on his recent success
Child stardom: Quan was only 12 years old when the shooting for Temple Of Doom ended
Fans along the red carpet couldn’t get enough of Quan, who has garnered huge audience support following his performance and Oscar win for Everything Everywhere All At Once after a nearly 20-year hiatus from acting
Spielberg loved his personality so much that he and Ford got to improvise the scene where Short Round accuses Indy of cheating during a card game
“I didn’t go looking for an actor. I was just like a normal kid, going to school every day at my primary school when I was 12 years old,” Quan recalls.
He continued, “I immigrated here to Los Angeles in 1979, and four years later, as fate would have it, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas were looking for a Chinese kid to be Short Round. And they went looking for him everywhere. Couldn’t find him, almost gave up on the part, when they decided to hold an open call in Chinatown, Los Angeles.’
In the wake of his success with his comeback role in Everything Everywhere All At Once, the grateful actor has fans from all over the world.
The former child star had his first reunion with Ford at the D23 expo last September.
“Are you Short Round?” asked the 80-year-old actor when they saw each other, which Quan says took him back to 1984 and the Temple Of Doom, during an interview in Men’s health.
“Yes, Indy, it’s me,” he responded to Ford at the time.
Afterwards, Ford shared his thoughts and emotions about the reunion, saying it was “great to see him.” I mean… I had a chance to see the movie (Everything Everywhere All At Once). He’s really great in his movie. And I’m so happy to see him… and what he’s become. I’m so happy for him… And well deserved! Well deserved.’
Casual role: Born in Saigon, South Vietnam, Quan actually went to an audition for Temple Of The Doom with his brother, as a show of support, but the casting director saw the potential in Quan as Short Round and passed him on to Spielberg
Personal choice: For Temple Of the Doom, Quan was chosen by director Steven Spielberg to play Short Round after a lengthy search through approximately 6,000 actors to find the perfect child actor
Coming Up: Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny, The First In The Franchise Not Directed By Steven Spielberg, Will Hit Theaters Across The U.S. On June 30
Ford greeted fans at the front of the venue during the screening
Quan with fellow Indiana Jones alum Raj Singh
Harrison Ford, John Williams and George Lucas were seen mingling
Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny, the first in the franchise not directed by Steven Spielberg, will hit theaters June 30.
In what is considered Indy’s last adventure with Ford donning the iconic fedora-style hat and carrying his trusty whip, Dial Of Destiny is set in 1969 with the backdrop of the Space Race.
Dr. Jones is uncomfortable with the US government’s recruitment of former Nazis to help defeat the Soviet Union in the battle to reach space.
For this go-around, Indy’s goddaughter, Helena Shaw (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), joins him on his new journey, while Jürgen Voller (Mads Mikkelsen), a NASA member and ex-Nazi involved in the lunar landing program, wants the world to choose a make a better place.
Directed by James Mangold from a screenplay he co-wrote with Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth and David Koepp, the cast also includes Antonio Banderas, John Rhys-Davies, Toby Jones, Ethann Isidore and Boyd Holbrook.
Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny, the first in the franchise not directed by Steven Spielberg, is scheduled to hit theaters in the US on June 30.