 Both the adaptation of the screenplay (written by  Piers Anthony (qv)) and early drafts of the script had the main  characters name as Douglas Quail. The original  Philip K. Dick (qv) story has the name Quail as well. The film was  being made during the Bush administration, with Dan Quayle (qv) as  Vice President and it is presumed that this was the reason for the  change.