A lot of the location filming was done in Hungary because 1990s Budapest looked like 1950s Paris where the stories were set. Many of the minor acting roles, especially non-speaking ones, were played by Hungarian actors. Likewise some Hungarian crew members were used.
Sir Michael Gambon takes over the role of Jules Maigret after Richard Harris played the role in the previous English-language adaptation: Maigret (1988). Gambon and Harris shared another role, that of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore in the Harry Potter film franchise.