Sibel Gerhardt, stepsister of Jan Lehmann, auditioned for the role of Marie and was one of the favorites. She was rejected only because she was too young to play some of the love scenes in the movie.
Before Robert Stadlober was cast in the leading role, Benjamin Lebert, the author of which the original novel, was the original choice of the producers. He declined, as he felt that he wasn't the right one for the part.