Why Indiana Jones Calls Helena "Wombat" In Dial Of Destiny

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The titular hero in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny constantly refers to goddaughter Helena as "wombat," but what does this nickname mean?

Warning: Major spoilers for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny below!

Summary

  • The nickname "wombat" for Helena in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny remains a mystery; it could be a reference to her connection to archaeology or simply a cute name Indy gave her when she was a child.
  • The tradition of giving main characters animal nicknames continues in Dial of Destiny, with Helena being dubbed "wombat" and becoming a surrogate daughter to Indy.
  • While there was speculation about a spinoff for Waller-Bridge's character, this movie is considered the definitive end of the Indiana Jones series.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Helena is dubbed "wombat' by Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny's titular hero, but why? Now the dust has settled on the fifth and final outing in the Indiana Jones movie franchise, Dial of Destiny is generally considered a fitting, emotional finale for Harrison Ford's iconic character. Reviews criticized the somewhat bloated runtime and overuse of CGI, but Ford was still fantastic as Indiana and shared solid comic chemistry with co-star Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

Indy is the godfather to Waller-Bridge's Helena, though the two are somewhat estranged following the death of her father. While not quite a villain, Helena is a con artist who is largely out for her own gain, and the story involves her and Indy having to reform their old connection. Needless to say, the two form a father/daughter bond before Dial of Destiny's ending comes into sight. This also helps Indy make peace with the offscreen death of his son, Mutt (played by Shia LaBeouf in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull).

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The Meaning Of Helena Shaw's Wombat Nickname From Indiana Jones

The running gag throughout Dial of Destiny is that Indiana calls Helena "wombat," just like he did when she was a child. However, the sequel is content to leave the origin of Helena's "wombat" nickname a mystery, and none of the cast or crew have explained it. There aren't many similarities between Helena and a wombat either - unless she also takes up to two weeks to fully digest her food.

The nickname could be a reference to a wombat's tendency to dig deep, like an archaeologist. Her father Basil (Toby Jones) and Indiana himself are both renowned archaeologists, and she followed in their footsteps. Of course, the origin of Helena's nickname might run no deeper than wombats being cute little animals and Indy attaching the name to Helena when she was very young.

Helena's Wombat Nickname Continues An Odd Indiana Jones Tradition

Dial of Destiny attaching an animal name to a main character is a proud franchise tradition. In The Last Crusade, it was revealed Indiana earned his badass name from the Jones' family dog. Kingdom of the Crystal Skull called Indy's son "Mutt," which is both an early clue to their family connection and the fact Mutt has had a few father figures, including Professor Ox (John Hurt) and Indy himself.

Dial of Destiny dubbing Helena "wombat" continues this animal naming trend, and confirms she has become a surrogate daughter of sorts to Indy. While there was speculation Waller-Bridge's character might receive her own spinoff following the fifth outing, by all accounts, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is the definitive end for the series, so audiences probably shouldn't expect Wombat Shaw and the Search for Atlantis.

Where to stream Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

  • Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
    Release Date: 2023-06-30 Cast: Boyd Holbrook, Thomas Kretschmann, Mads Mikkelsen, Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Shaunette Renée Wilson Director: James Mangold Genres: Action, Adventure Rating: PG-13 Writers: Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, David Koepp, James Mangold Runtime: 2 hours and 2 minutes Budget: 295 million Studio(s): Lucasfilm Distributor(s): Disney prequel(s): Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Franchise(s): Indiana Jones
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