The film was intended to be the first reunion since 1988's "Dragon's Forever" for Hong Kong's 'Three Lucky Sons'; Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao and Jackie Chan. Jackie Chan was set for the role of Inspector Tang Chuen-Shek, but pulled out due to contractual obligations with Rumble in the Bronx (1995). Takeshi Kaneshiro replaced Chan in the role.
A big inspiration for the movie was Stephen Bocho's NYPD BLUE, which can be witnessed in the camerawork, and the extensive unlicensed use of the theme from the show at various times in the movie.
During the shooting of this movie, Takeshi Kaneshiro began to study Chinese martial arts under the direction of Robert Samuels, Samuels is not only a student of Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Dick Wei, Billy Chow, Lam Ching-ying and Lau Kar-leung.