Update Given After Disney World Cast Member Injured, Hospitalized in Malfunction

Back in December 2025, a Walt Disney World cast member was injured during a performance of Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Disney’s Hollywood Studios after a massive prop boulder malfunctioned mid-show. The incident unfolded during the attraction’s temple sequence in front of a packed audience.

Video shared online appeared to show the 400-pound boulder veering off course before a performer intervened to stop it from reaching guests. The cast member – who was playing a “director” during the show at the time – was hospitalized and suffered vertebral fractures, prompting Disney to temporarily adjust the stunt sequence.

As of May 2026, it has yet to reverse this adjustment.

However, the good news is that the cast member involved has now returned to work at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Good News From Disney’s Hollywood Studios

According to WFTV Channel 9, veteran performer Robert Herrick – who had more than 30 years’ experience before the accident – is back in action.

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

The show has experienced several serious incidents over the years. In 2009, stunt performer Anislav Varbanov died during a rehearsal after suffering a head injury while performing a tumbling roll. Disney canceled performances the following day out of respect for the 30-year-old cast member.

Long before the recent boulder malfunction, OSHA also fined Disney $1,000 after multiple performers were injured during the show in separate accidents, including falls caused by a failed restraining cable and collapsing prop ladder. Another performer was reportedly pinned by a malfunctioning trap door during rehearsals.

The future of Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular has long been the subject of fan concern, particularly as Disney’s Hollywood Studios continues prioritizing newer franchises and large-scale expansions. However, recent work tied to an internal project reportedly called “Project Fedora” has actually reassured many guests, with planned activity under the name Project Fedora – slated to take place near the theater – suggesting Disney is still investing in the decades-old attraction area.

Do you think Disney should keep Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular?