Director Mauro Borrelli was initially surprised that a producer suggested that he cast Martin Lawrence, a comedian, in this movie. However, when Borrelli met Lawrence, he liked the sound of Lawrence's voice and because of Lawrence's stand-up background and ability to remember two hours worth of comic material, Borrelli believed that Lawrence would be easy to work with.
To prepare for his role as a traumatized, seasoned detective, Martin Lawrence put on weight, worked with an acting coach, and employed the method acting technique.
John Malkovich and Martin Lawrence began their entertainment careers in Hollywood before their co-star, Melissa Roxburgh, was even born.
In addition to this film, director Mauro Borrelli and actor Robert Knepper worked together on the movie, WarHunt (2022).