Summary
TheIndiana Jonesfranchise has seen the titular hero through many thrilling adventures, often involving some paranormal elements, but one lesser-known story actually sees him fighting Dracula, and it is official canon. The franchise kicked off with the 1981 release ofRaiders of the Lost Ark, in which Harrison Ford first embodied the character. The film’s success spawned several sequels, withIndiana Jones and the Temple of Doomin 1984 andIndiana Jones and the Last Crusadein 1989 being the first. It wasn’t until 2008 that another film entry landed in cinemas with the mixed reception ofIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which saw the franchise take another long break before finally releasing a fifth film withIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destinyin 2023.
With the success of theIndiana Jonesfranchise, the character quickly found himself popping up in other media, fleshing out his story for audiences. The character has starred in novels, comics, and even video games, with the recentIndiana Jones and the Great Circlefinding itself one of the best-reviewed games of 2024. Indiana Jones also found his way to TV in 1992 with a series calledThe Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, where an up-and-coming Sean Patrick Flanery would take on the role. Thanks to the franchise’s foray into TV, audiences got to see a young Indiana Jones take on Dracula.
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles And Its Re-release Explained
TheYoung Indiana Jones Chronicleswas created by George Lucas and ran for two seasons before coming to an end in 1993. It also boasted creative talent behind the scenes, including writer Frank Darabont, who createdThe Walking DeadTV series, and Jonathan Hensleigh, who pennedJumanjiandDie Hard with a Vengeance. It even features episodes directed by Joe Johnston, who would go on to helmCaptain America: The First Avenger, and Mike Newell, who is known forFour Weddings and a FuneralandHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Following the end ofThe Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, Lucas had the episodes re-edited into 22 feature-length adventures, each of which combined two episodes from the series. The new edits were calledThe Adventures of Young Indiana Jones, and they were released on VHS in 1999, with them finding their way to DVD in 2007.
The series told several stories from Indy’s early childhood, seeing Corey Carrier portray the character when he was 9 and 10 years old through the first seven episodes. Flanery then took over, playing Jones from ages 16 to 21, during which time the character experienced many influential life moments, like fighting in World War I.Harrison Ford even made an appearance, telling a story as an older Indy that kicked off a flashback starting the episode. TheYoung Indiana Jones Chroniclesalso allowed Indy to meet numerous historical figures, including T.E. Lawrence, Pancho Villa, Winston Churchill, Henry Ford, Pablo Picasso, and Ernest Hemingway, with every adventure still considered official franchise canon. One of the historical figures Indiana Jones came face to face with was none other than Vlad the Impaler, aka Vlad Dracula.
Breaking Down Indy’s Fight With Dracula
Indiana Jones and his meeting with Vlad the Impaler is featured inThe Young Indiana Jones Chroniclesseason 2, episode 22, “Transylvania, January 1918.” Upon re-release, it was part ofThe Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Masks of Evil, serving as the second half of the story. Itstarts with Indiana Jones, who is aiding British intelligence under the false name Henri Defense in 1918 during WWI, being tasked to go to Transylvania to investigate POWs who have gone missing. Upon arrival, he is joined by a small group that accompanies him to a castle inhabited by General Targo, where impaled bodies litter the courtyard, which prompts some exposition on Vlad the Impaler. The episode plays like a haunted house horror film as they search the castle, turning up the creepy tension with disembodied voices and blood dripping from the ceiling.
Indy and his team eventually find Targo and the missing POWs, but they realize too late that they are now loyal vampire servants. Jones postulates that Targo only believes he is Vlad, but the General quickly captures them and finally sports his long fangs, proving he truly is Vlad Dracula. After escaping capture, Indy and Vlad have a final fight atop the castle, which ends with Vlad falling to his supposed death. However, knowing that likely wouldn’t kill him, Indy and his sole remaining companion retrieve the body and drive a stake through his heart, causing him to ignite into flames and explode, with his visage laughing at them from the smoke.
WhileThe Young Indiana Jones Chroniclesmay continue to shift around streaming services, potentially never landing at a permanent home, the character will continue to endure. It’s unlikely that Ford will play the character again, butIndiana Jones and the Great Circlehas sequelpotential. So, while the character may not return to the big screen anytime soon, theIndiana Jonesfranchise can continue to thrive in unique ways.
