8 Ways Indiana Jones Almost Turned Out Completely Different

8. He Was Almost Named "Indiana Smith"

It seems like a case of total cinematic blasphemy, but it's completely true: in the early stages of development, George Lucas - having conceived the character - originally pegged the iconic archaeologist as a man named "Indiana Smith," who he had named after his Alaskan Malamute, Indiana, and the main character of the eponymous - and not particularly good - 1966 western Nevada Smith (starring Steve McQueen). But Spielberg didn't like it. He felt like the name was too "hokey," to which Lucas replied: "Name him Indiana Jones or whatever you want - it's your movie now." And that's exactly what Spielberg did. Indiana Smith became Indiana Jones. Chances are that, had the character actually been called "Indiana Smith," we'd know no different and it would have seemed just as perfect - the name only feels jarring now because the word "Jones" seems to naturally follow on from "Indiana." Despite that, though, we still think they boys made the correct decision. Spielberg was right: way too hokey.