20 Things You Didn't Know About Raiders Of The Lost Ark

20. The Real Reason Indiana Jones Was Made

In May 1977, George Lucas, released a little film called Star Wars. Lucas was so certain it would bomb, he immediately asked his friend, Steven Spielberg, to go on vacation to Hawaii so they could brainstorm a new project.

When Lucas said he was working on an adventure story which played homage to the classic 1940 swashbuckling serials, Spielberg realised this was the perfect opportunity to create a character just as cool as James Bond. Spielberg adored Ian Fleming's work and desperately wanted to make a Bond film but was constantly rejected. He saw Lucas' idea as a way to make a character that was cooler than Bond

Within four years, their creation, Raiders of the Lost Ark, was released, launching one of the most beloved films series ever. Ironically, James Bond actor, Sean Connery, went on to play Indy's father in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, (which was probably done out of spite).

So there you go. Indiana Jones was created so Spielberg could spite a studio and because George Lucas thought Star Wars (also known as the most famous film ever) would tank at the box office.