Quiz

The major fight scene is the Battle of Abu Klea, which took place on January 17, 1885. A British Desert Column of approximately 1,100 troops fought a Mahdist force of over 12,000 dervishes. The scene depicted in the film is a fictional version of the actual battle.

Abou Fatma mentions serving as a scout for General Hicks. William Hicks, also known as Hicks Pasha, was a British officer in service of the Egyptian army. In 1883, the colonial governor of Egypt dispatched Hicks and his ill-prepared force of around 10,000 soldiers to deal with the advance of the Mahdists. In the Battle of Shaykan, the Egyptians were ambushed and nearly all killed. Hicks was among the dead.

This is the seventh film version of the source novel. The first was Four Feathers (1915).

Jude Law was the original choice for the role of Harry Feversham.

Kate Hudson turned down the chance to play Mary-Jane in Spider-Man (2002) to make this film.