Lost INDIANA JONES Short Round Action Figure Finally Surfaces After 40 Years

There’s something undeniably cool about lost movie memorabilia suddenly resurfacing decades later, especially when it ties into a franchise as iconic as Indiana Jones.

A piece of toy history that fans never thought they’d get their hands on is now up for grabs, and it’s got collectors paying serious attention. A cancelled Short Round action figure from the 1980s has finally appeared for auction, giving fans a rare shot at owning something that was never meant to leave the prototype stage.

Back when Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was gearing up for release, Lucasfilm was looking to replicate the merchandising success it had with Star Wars.

That franchise was a juggernaut when it came to toys, largely thanks to its partnership with Kenner. Naturally, they tried to bring that same energy to Indy’s adventures, but things didn’t quite line up the same way.

Kenner had already tested the waters with Raiders of the Lost Ark, but according to The Toy Collectors Guide, the company “opted out of their contract in 1984” due to “slower than expected sales.”

It turns out the darker tone and older-skewing audience of Indiana Jones didn’t translate into the same toy-buying frenzy as Star Wars. Kids loved Indy, but maybe not enough to fill toy aisles.

That’s where LJN stepped in. Described as a “small toy company,” LJN took a swing at producing a full Temple of Doom toy line. It was an ambitious move, but things didn’t go according to plan.

Several figures were designed, including Short Round, Willie Scott, and a mine cart version of Indy, but most of them were scrapped before hitting shelves. Only three figures ever made it out into the wild: Mola Ram, Giant Thugee, and Indiana Jones himself.

Now, one of those lost figures has resurfaced. An unpainted prototype of Short Round is currently up for auction through Hakes, and collectors are already driving the price up.

At the time of writing, bids have climbed past $1,000, with expectations landing somewhere between $1,000 and $2,000. Not bad for a toy that was never officially released.

What makes this especially interesting is that Short Round, played by Ke Huy Quan, has become even more beloved over the years. While officially released figures of the character didn’t arrive until much later, this prototype represents a moment in time when the franchise was trying to figure out its place in the toy market.

Even though the Indiana Jones films didn’t dominate toy sales back in the day, the fanbase has only grown stronger. That passion shows up in moments like this. Collectors aren’t just buying plastic figures, they’re buying stories, what-ifs, and pieces of a franchise’s history.

When it comes to Indiana Jones, fans are willing to go big. Memorabilia tied to Harrison Ford has proven especially valuable, including his fedora from Temple of Doom, which sold for $300,000 a few years back. That kind of demand says a lot about the staying power of the franchise.

With the future of Indiana Jones uncertain after Dial of Destiny underperformed and planned spin-offs getting scrapped, moments like this auction feel even more special. They’re reminders that even if new stories aren’t on the horizon, the legacy of Indy isn’t going anywhere.

If anything, it’s just getting more collectible.