Years after they made this movie, Shelley Winters and Annie Potts appeared as guests on the television talk show The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962). Looking at Potts, Winters said, "I know you from somewhere, or I've seen you in some great movies. I can't remember which." Potts replied, "Well, maybe it was one we did together." Winters didn't remember the film, until Potts reminded her that it was Il re degli zingari (1978). Upon being told this, Winters instantly said to Potts, "Of course! And you were wonderful in it!" This caused a large roar of laughter from the audience.
Debut theatrical feature film of actor Eric Roberts who played the central character of Dave Stepanowicz.
Peter Bogdanovich was initially attached to direct the film. An article published in the 25th January 1975 edition of 'The New York Times' stated: ''Peter Bogdanovich has been signed to direct, produce and write the adaptation of 'The King of the Gypsies', the forthcoming book by Peter Maas, which has been acquired for filming by the Dino De Laurentiis Corporation. The book, which deals with a struggle between a father and son for the leadership of a major American gypsy tribe, is slated for publication in September by the Viking Press. Mr. De Laurentiis produced successful film versions of two of the author's previous books, Serpico (1973) and Joe Valachi - I segreti di Cosa Nostra (1972).''
Susan Sarandon and Brooke Shields previously played a mother and daughter in Pretty Baby (1978) which had debuted earlier in the same year of 1978.