Before this role, Haaz Sleiman (as Tarek) had never played the drums and had to practice three hours a day for a month and a half. After watching a documentary on Fela Kuti, Sleiman came up with the idea for Tarek to rehearse in his underwear.
For The visitor (2007), Tom McCarthy won the 2008 Independent Spirit Award for Best Director, while Richard Jenkins was nominated for Best Actor at the 81st Academy Awards®.
The visitor (2007) was shot on location in New York City. Some scenes were filmed on campus at Wagner College in Staten Island, New York. The soundtrack includes "Open and Close" and "Je'nwi Teni (Don't Gag Me)," written and performed by Nigerian musician/composer Fela Kuti.
Tom McCarthy had Richard Jenkins (as Walter Vale) in mind from the beginning because he has an "amazing and wonderful every-man quality" which helped create the character. After two and a half years of writing he worked with Jenkins to finalize it.