Rutger Hauer played the descendant of the Josh Randall character, who was played by Steve McQueen on the western television series, Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958).
Throughout this movie, actor Rutger Hauer carries an H&K P7M13 and a Cold Steel Tanto. His shotgun is a shortened Remington 870 with Laser Products laser sight on it, activated by the trigger and powered by a battery pack in the grip. The holster system used was custom made to accommodate both guns.
According to writer and director Gary Sherman, there were two other actors considered for the part of Nick Randall. One was James Caan and the other was Mel Gibson, who was still largely unknown outside of Australia at the time. The producers settled on Rutger Hauer for the role though since Hauer's agent reduced his usual fee for a leading part. It would have cost twice as much to get Caan or Gibson for the role which made the decision an easy one.
Actor Ted White who portrays Pete, Charlie Higgins friend in the bar & the store robbery, also portrayed killer Jason Voorhees in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter.
The casting of Gene Simmons in the role of a Middle Eastern terrorist was better than most people thought, as Simmons speaks five languages, was born in Haifa, Israel, and is an experienced performer with his American rock band KISS.