Indiana Jones 5: The Return of Sala is a great story and we’ll tell you why!

The Indiana Jones 5 trailer released during D23 on September 10 confirmed the return of Salah, a character that fans love so much!

In Raiders of the Lost Ark and the Last Crusade, this friendly, funny and cheeky Egyptian was an inseparable ally of India, saving her several times.

Salah did not subsequently appear in The Temple of Doom or The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, with John Rhys-Davies refusing to make a cameo at the end of this 4th episode.

“I turned it down because I felt it would be a betrayal of the audience’s expectations. Sala is a popular character, with a greatness of spirit that we all love and admire.”explained the actor in a column for Digital Spy in 2016.

Why is Salah’s return big news?

This time John Rhys-Davies did not hesitate! He accepted director James Mangold’s suggestion and donned the character’s iconic fez again for this 5th opus. Therefore, we can conclude that his role will be more substantial and important, which should convince the 78-year-old actor.

“I miss the desert, I miss the sea, and I miss waking up every morning to see what adventure the new day will bring.”We can hear it in the first images of episode 5 shown at D23. These words come from the mouth of Salah, which did not hesitate many spectators present.

If James Mangold, the experienced director of Logan, Walk The Line, Copland or Le Mans 66, decided to call this character, it is not purely because of nostalgia, but with the idea of ​​making him a central element of the story. And it is for this reason that John Rhys-Davies agreed to return.

Also, Harrison Ford’s tears on stage at D23, leading up to a fantastic 5th film full of adventure, mystery and heart, speaks volumes about his involvement in boosting India’s recent outfits.

Nothing will go without Salah!

Moreover, the two feature films in which Salah does not appear, The Temple of Doom and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, are two of the most controversial opus of the Indiana Jones saga. The first is almost rejected by Spielberg, who always considered it too dark. The episode’s dark atmosphere surprised fans, but it was still well-received.

As for the latter, it is often cited as the worst installment of the franchise, with fans not getting over the outrageous use of digital effects, the plot revolving around aliens, and not even the nuclear explosion sequence. Indy in the fridge.

To sum it up, the two best Indiana Joneses stand out with Salah present and playing an important role. Therefore, we can allow ourselves to have high hopes for part 5.

Indy and Salah, the iconic duo

Why does the Indiana Jones / Salah tandem work so well? The characters are two sides of the same coin, both very different and very close. The first is an ardent researcher, of a quiet and solitary nature, not really turned to the spiritual.

As for the other, he has a cheerful and cheerful personality, very sociable, with patters. Also, as long as Indy is not tied down, Salah has a large family to rely on. Trustworthy, generous and faithful, he has a great sense of justice.

It is partly because of these values ​​that he dares to put himself and his family at risk by helping India against the Nazis. He knows that if the archaeologist fails his quest, the consequences for the world will be dire.

If these two men get along so well, it’s because they envy and admire each other. For the Egyptian, Dr. Jones represents the aspect of his life that he wants to embrace, like going on an adventure at night without worrying about the rest. Meanwhile, Indy reflects on his friend’s life with melancholy, surrounded by his wife Faia and his 9 children.

In this life, he could only touch Marion, whom he will leave to find something better 30 years later. But it is too late to create a real united family. Indy’s impulsive, sometimes rude and brash side is balanced by Sala’s fun, friendly and lovable personality. The balance between the two is subtle and allows the audience to identify with each other to fully experience their adventures throughout the film.

The lucky dragon of India

The return of this character, the lucky charm of the Indiana Jones saga, is therefore great news! The actor has been calling for Salah’s return for a long time, provided that this return has real meaning.

“Of course I want to do another one, he’s a great character! But I want him to do something meaningful. Maybe the real tragedy of our time is that there’s no place for a positive Arab character in Western popular culture right now; that’s my perception of society.” and not a value judgment”He lamented in 2016 to our colleagues at DigitalSpy.

The British, who were very attached to the hero, imagined a heroic fate for him as a protector of artifacts and antiquities:

“I’d like to think he would be someone like Khaled al-Assad, this beautiful 80-year-old man who guarded his museum in Palmyra and hid his major treasures. He refused to hand them over to Daesh and publicly beheaded himself. I think that’s probably how I’d see Salah.”he clarified.

Did James Mangold grant John Rhys-Davies’ wish to make Sala a patron of artifacts? Answer June 28, 2023 in theaters.