 With this new backstory in place, Lucas decided that "The Empire Strikes Back" would be the second film of two trilogies, designating it "Episode V" by the fifth draft.Lawrence Kasdan had just completed writing "Raiders of the Lost Ark", and Lucas hired him to write the next drafts with input from director Irvin Kershner.Kasdan, Kershner, and producer Gary Kurtz saw the film as a more serious and adult film, helped by the new, darker storyline, and developed the series from the light adventure roots of the first film.