Mutt Belloq
Thanks, Mickiana. I'm actually surprised it hasn't been suggested before. Well, I *did* write a script for an Indy 5 (since it won't be made, you are free to read it here:
http://www.mattdemille.com/scripts.htm) that is Mutt-free. I did send this script (well, its treatment) to Lucasfilm and ran into the roadblock of "can't view unsolicited material". Common in Hollywood. Oh well.
I think Spielberg has an unrealized achilles heel, that of overdoing children. He loves children. And there's nothing wrong with that. But he tends to make his movies revolve around them, when oftentimes the movie is better off with adults acting like children, and letting us (children and adults alike) feel young through them. Having children literally in movies makes this escapism too self-conscious. I think when Spielberg and Lucas were younger (the days of Raiders, Jaws, the classic Star Wars, etc) they were still seeing things through the eyes of kids, but now, having had children themselves, they're viewing things through the wrong lens.
Well, I actually didn't mind Mutt. I think Shia is a good actor and has great respect for the work he does. Like Short Round, we might come to like Mutt over time. I think the real problem we have with Mutt is that the movie is titled "Indiana Jones". We want the movie to be about Indy, not someone else, and certainly not an entire platoon of adventurers. Each film gets more crowded, and it's less about Indy himself. Hence why my script is like Raiders was: Indy plus one sidekick at a time (they come and go, but it's never a gang).
I seem to be rambling here. Well, if I ever rewrite the script (or write a new one), I'll explore the "Mutt as Belloq's son" angle in depth. Personally, I think that's what Shia really needs -- A heel turn. You can almost see the angry, rebellious youth ready to go to the dark side or, as Belloq so nicely put it, to be nudged or pushed out of the light. Maybe Mutt could hear this very story told by Indy, fight the temptation of it, and finally give in. Telling that tale right, Lucas might also be able to redeem a bit more of the Star Wars prequels, about a youth's turn to the dark side done credibly.
And if Spielberg or Lucas read this, just so I don't torpedo my own film career, I did see Crystal Skulls in the theater 5 times, and total viewings of the Star Wars prequels hit 15.