Movies - TV
How Raiders Of The Lost Ark Gave Us The Best Star Wars Movie
By SANDY SCHAEFER
Breaking into Hollywood requires more than talent or hard work; you also need a lot of luck. When Oscar-nominated writer-director Lawrence Kasdan’s career began, it took him seven years to sell “two spec scripts” — one of which would change his future forever and introduce him to Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.
Kasdan’s second script, “Continental Divide,” was picked up by Spielberg, and the day they met, Spielberg told Kasdan, “I’m going to do a movie with George Lucas and I want you to meet him. Are you okay with that?” Kasdan replied, “Yes, I’m very okay with that.” It turns out that Lucas wanted Kasdan to develop his story “Raiders of the Lost Ark” into a full-fledged script.
When Kasdan returned the “Lost Ark” script, Lucas asked for his help on the sequel to the first “Star Wars” film, but said, “I’m going to read [this script] tonight. If I don’t like it, I’m calling you up tomorrow, I’m taking back this offer.” Lucas approved, and Kasdan co-wrote “The Empire Strikes Back,” widely considered to be the best of the “Star Wars” original trilogy.