Trivia

The entire shoot schedule had to be rearranged following the casting of 'Shia LaBeouf' in the lead role as he had a prior commitments to publicize Holes (2003).

Casting the role of Abe turned out to be extremely difficult. The directors' initial choices were either unavailable (eg Billy Bob Thornton) or passed on the role (eg Bill Paxton). 'Gary Cole' and 'William Sadler' both auditioned; Cole was the studio's choice and was offered the part. The day before filming it became clear that Cole's schedule wouldn't allow him to participate, and so the role was offered to 'Christopher McDonald' the night before filming started. While McDonald was on the set the next day being fitted for a costume, it was discovered that his schedule did not allow him to be available for the dates that the production required him. After deciding the that the scheduled couldn't be rearranged to accommodate him, the role was offered over the phone to 'Christopher Lloyd' , a friend of cinematographer Thomas E. Ackerman. Lloyd was simultaneously offered a role in Haunted Lighthouse (2003) which he preferred, and so he passed. The role was finally offered to Sadler, who arrived on set and had only 60 minutes to meet and form a relationship with 'Shia LaBeouf' before their big emotional scene together.

Although the TV series aired on HBO, the final movie aired on Starz.