Director Peter Weir cast Linda Hunt in the role of Billy Kwan after failing to find an actor who could play the part the way he wanted.
With a budget of $6 million, this was, at the time, one of the most expensive and ambitious Australian films ever undertaken.
Filming in Manila was halted after three weeks due to death threats to the production. Reportedly, these were directed at Mel Gibson and Peter Weir. The threats alleged that the film was intended to be anti-Islam. For the protection and safety of the cast and crew, the whole production moved to Sydney to complete principal photography. The move was costly and put a huge strain on the picture's art department.
Vangelis's electronic tune "L'Enfant" (from his 1979 Opera Sauvage album), which is featured prominently in this film, was Hugh Hudson's original choice to be the theme music for Carros de fuego (1981). It was only after Vangelis finally persuaded Hudson to listen to his new, and now familiar, "Chariots of Fire" tune, that Hudson changed his mind. Both pieces beautifully showcase the musical versatility of the composer.
Mel Gibson has said of the threats to the film: "It wasn't really that bad. We got a lot of death threats to be sure, but I just assumed that when there are so many, it must mean nothing is really going to happen. I mean, if they meant to kill us, why send a note?"
Mark Egerton: The film's Australian shoot production supervisor and first assistant director as an embassy aide.