Disney World Gives Positive Update After Major Indiana Jones Incident

A Disney World stunt performer is finally back at work months after a terrifying onstage accident.

For decades, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular has been one of the defining attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The live-action production — packed with explosions, collapsing sets, stunt performers, and practical effects — first opened in 1989 and still draws large crowds daily.

As Disney pivots toward large-scale intellectual property expansions tied to Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars, several opening-day productions and legacy entertainment offerings have quietly disappeared. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular has repeatedly faced speculation about its long-term future.

Recently, Disney launched work tied to an internal refurbishment effort reportedly known as “Project Fedora.” The project sparked online theories that changes are coming to the area surrounding the stunt show.

Back in December 2025, a Walt Disney World cast member was injured during a performance of Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular after a massive prop boulder malfunctioned during the temple sequence in front of guests.

Video shared online appeared to show the 400-pound boulder veering off course before a performer intervened to stop it from reaching the audience. The cast member — who was playing the show’s “director” role at the time — was hospitalized and suffered vertebral fractures.

Disney later temporarily adjusted the sequence following the incident.

Disney Cast Member Returns to Hollywood Studios

Now, there is finally a positive update surrounding the accident.

According to WFTV Channel 9, veteran stunt performer Robert Herrick has officially returned to work at Disney’s Hollywood Studios following the incident. Herrick had reportedly worked on the show for more than 30 years before the malfunction occurred.

Photos shared following his return show Herrick holding a banner reading “Welcome back, Robert” alongside the phrase “The boulder didn’t stop you.”

Earlier this year, Herrick spoke publicly about the incident during an interview with Fox 35.

Herrick said his “30 years of experience” on the show helped him react instantly when the boulder malfunctioned, adding that his only thought was: “It cannot make it to the audience.”

“If I could be a speed bump for that boulder,” he said, “so that it didn’t make it to the audience, I was going to do that.”

Herrick later recalled worrying more about children seeing him injured than the injury itself.

“I don’t want the kids to see me bleeding,” he said.

A Long History of Problems Behind the Stunts

The recent malfunction is not the first serious incident connected to the attraction.

In 2009, stunt performer Anislav Varbanov died during a rehearsal after suffering a head injury while performing a tumbling roll. Disney canceled performances following the accident out of respect for the 30-year-old cast member.

OSHA also fined Disney over previous injuries tied to the show.

Over the years, performers have reportedly been injured in separate accidents involving failed restraining cables, collapsing props, and malfunctioning stage equipment. One performer was reportedly pinned during rehearsals after a trap door malfunctioned.

Despite those incidents, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular remains one of the most recognizable live productions at Walt Disney World.

The attraction continues operating daily at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, with Disney still making visible investments in the surrounding area through Project Fedora and other ongoing infrastructure work.

Would you miss Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular?