 Lucas came up with ideas that involved a religious cult devoted to child slavery , black magic and ritual human sacrifice . Lawrence Kasdan of Raiders of the Lost Ark was asked to write the script . " I didn 't want to be associated with Temple of Doom , " he reflected . " I just thought it was horrible . It 's so mean . There 's nothing pleasant about it . I think Temple of Doom represents a chaotic period in both their [ Lucas and Spielberg ] lives , and the movie is very ugly and mean @-@ spirited . " Lucas hired Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz to write the script because of their knowledge of Indian culture . Gunga Din served as an influence for the film . 
