Who wrote the screenplay for Raiders of the Lost Ark?

Who wrote the screenplay for Raiders of the Lost Ark? Lawrence Kasdan wrote the screenplay for Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Kasdan developed the script from a story by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman. Lucas and Steven Spielberg had already shaped the film as a fast-moving adventure inspired by the cliffhanger serials of the 1930s, but Kasdan supplied the screenplay that turned those ideas into a complete story.

During the writing process, Kasdan helped organize the film's globe-spanning chase for the Ark of the Covenant, Indiana Jones's pursuit by Nazi agents, and the relationship between Indy and Marion Ravenwood. He completed an early draft in 1978, and the screenplay was refined before production.

A common mix-up is crediting the film's director, Steven Spielberg, or its story creator, George Lucas, as the screenwriter. Spielberg directed the 1981 movie, while Lucas produced it and shared the story credit. Kasdan later became known for writing other major films, including The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.