This is the second time that Christa B. Allen has played the younger version of a character played by Jennifer Garner. The first was in 30 ans sinon rien (2004).
In the street scene after Connor Mead visits his secretary's flat, an old antiquarian storefront bookshop is in the background, next to the stairs to the secretary's apartment. The name of the bookshop, in gold print across the glass window, is Fezziwig's Books. In 'A Christmas Carol', Mr Fezziwig was Ebenezer Scrooge's first boss, a cheery soul who is a direct contrast to the dour Scrooge.
Originally set up at Walt Disney Pictures with Ben Affleck attached to play the lead character, and Kevin Smith to direct. However, Harvey Weinstein, who produced all of Smith's films at Miramax, didn't like Smith going away to Disney, and offered him money to direct a prequel to Fletch aux trousses (1985) if he could get Affleck to play the lead. 'Fletch Won' briefly went into production, but then Affleck decided to go with Disney anyway, and Smith's film was canceled. Production on 'Ghosts' was to begin in the fall of 2003, but budgetary concerns and the failure of Amours troubles (2003) caused the studio to cancel the film one month prior to shooting. Ironically, when the film got picked up by New Line Cinema years later, Affleck's then-wife Jennifer Garner appeared in it. The role Affleck was supposed to play was instead played by his Génération rebelle (1993) co-star, Matthew McConaughey.
When Ben Affleck was attached to the project, offers went out to Warren Beatty, Robert De Niro, Bill Murray and Jack Nicholson for the part of Uncle Wayne.