John Candy and Rick Moranis were originally attached to the lead roles. But Candy died, and Moranis retired shortly after talks began.
An accident during filming killed stuntwoman Janet Wilder and injured her husband, stuntman Scott Wilder, and his father, stuntman Glenn R. Wilder. A boat was supposed to go over a ramp, fly over a mangrove hedge, land between two other boats, and stop in the water. Instead, the boat slid off the side of the ramp, flipped over, and landed in a crowd of crew and extras.
John G. Avildsen was the film's original director. He was fired after two weeks, paid his $2 million salary, and replaced by Christopher Cain. Cain had actually previously replaced Avildsen as a director on El nuevo Karate Kid (1994).
Tommy DeVito: As the construction worker who says "Oh Gus!" at the beginning. DeVito was the original lead guitarist of The Four Seasons, and had been a good friend of Joe Pesci's since childhood.
Norman D. Golden II: As Young Gus, Danny Glover's younger on-screen counterpart, in the beginning of the film.
Louise Fletcher: As the restaurant owner. Fletcher asked Joe Pesci if she could have a role in this film, having always wanted to work with Pesci after seeing him in Uno de los nuestros (1990).