Russell Crowe had Ridley Scott read the sсript to help him decide if he wanted to make it.

Brad Pitt and Edward Norton originally signed on for the movie that would have reunited them for the first time since Бойцовский клуб.
However, Pitt pulled out before Thanksgiving 2007, when rewrites were made impossible because of the writers' strike.
He was replaced by Russell Crowe. Pitt's departure delayed the start of shooting, and made Norton unavailable
as he was committed to start shooting Leaves of Grass in January. He was replaced by Ben Affleck.

Brad Pitt nicknamed the film "State of Delay" after being stalled on it.

Director Kevin Macdonald considered asking Bill Nighy to reprise his role of Cameron
but decided to make the character a female instead. Helen Mirren was then cast.