Funny how a seaside brainstorming session in Hawaii between two of the most legendary directors ever birthed one of the greatest action-adventure series of all time: Indiana Jones.
Or should I say, Indiana Smith?
Imagine a man named Indiana Smith wearing a fedora, wielding a whip, and riding a horse to save the day against the evil Nazi German forces. Something seems so out of place—it’s the name. And thank god Steven Spielberg was there to play the devil’s advocate.
For those who might be wondering what impact a simple name change of a character can have on a movie, here is a fun little backstory of the iconic, mythic Indiana Jones character created by George Lucas. Let’s dig in.
What Is Indiana Jones All About?
In a discussion about iconic adventure characters of all time, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is a no-brainer. Taking form from the genius mind of George Lucas and brought to the screen by Steven Spielberg, Indiana Jones is an archaeologist who showcases a killer combination of academic intellect and a never-back-down attitude.
Indiana Jones is one of those characters you can instantly recognize by his iconic attire—rugged white shirt, leather jacket, miraculous hat, satchel, and whip as his signature gear. Not to mention, he is full of witty one-liners and has a very un-heroic fear of snakes, originating from his childhood trauma.
The very first installment, Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), charmed the audience with its innovative, dynamic action set pieces, dramatic cliffhangers, and fast-paced editing style. This throwback to movie serials of the ‘30s and ‘40s was a critical and financial success, spawning four successful sequels, the latest being Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023). The Indiana Jones franchise has greatly influenced several action-adventure movies, such as The Mummy and National Treasure, with its filmmaking and practical stunts in the pre-CGI era.
Origin of the Character: Indiana Smith?
‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (1981)Credit: Paramount Pictures
Collaboration Between Two Friends
In 1977, just after the premiere of George Lucas’ Star Wars, he took a break from his intense work and vacationed in Hawaii. There, he met his dear friend, Steven Spielberg, on the beach. The latter shared his wish of making a James Bond film. The two exchanged stories, and that’s how the collaboration began.
Origin of the Story and “Indiana Smith”
It was at this point that Lucas told Spielberg the seed of the Indiana Jones story, calling it something even better. Lucas said, “I told him the story about this archaeologist and said it was like a Saturday-matinee serial, that he just got into one mess after another. And Steven said, ‘Fantastic, let’s do this!’”
Lucas had named the character after his dog, Indiana. Indiana Smith. Indiana sounded like an old-school American vibe, but “Smith” just made the character sound very generic.
From Smith to Jones
‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (1981)Credit: Paramount Pictures
The story made sense, but there was one hiccup: Spielberg hated the name—he said Indiana Smith sounded too hokey. To which Lucas simply replied, “Name him Indiana Jones or whatever you want – it’s your movie now.” What a great friend.
Harrison Ford Was Not the First Choice for Indiana Jones
As George Lucas had already cast Harrison Ford for Star Wars and American Graffiti, he offered the iconic role to actor Tom Selleck. He turned down Lucas due to a potential scheduling conflict for his show, Magnum, P.I., at the time. And that’s how Harrison Ford landed the part of Indiana Jones by donning the explorer’s hat.
The Brainstorming Session Between Lucas and Spielberg
The New Yorker writer Patrick Radden Keefe explained that George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan sat down in California to flesh out Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Following his breakout blockbuster Jaws, Spielberg was amped up for his next film. Funnily enough, both Lucas and Spielberg were pretty good at coming up with bad ideas—an integral part of the creative process—and Lucas was notorious for gently shooting them down. However, it was Spielberg who came up with the 65-foot boulder scene, right after Indiana Jones lifts up the ancient artifact off the pedestal, before replacing it with a small sandbag.
Summing It Up
When George Lucas teams up with Steven Spielberg, you just know something special is going to be cooked. That’s what they did with Raiders of the Lost Ark. One can only imagine how the exchange of great ideas between two giants in a writers’ room would have looked, along with some horrible ones, including Lucas’s “Indiana Smith.”