The financing for the film came exclusively from well-to-do private individuals living in the state of Baden-Württemberg and was raised by the Stuttgart-based film financing and production house Niama Film, which was established by director Nikolai Müllerschön with partners Thomas Reisser, Roland Pellegrino and Dan Maag.
Val Kilmer was initially considered for the title role, even though during filming he would have been in his late 40s, at least 20 years older than the real Manfred von Richthofen ever lived to be.
The nurse Käte Otersdorf in the film was a real person and she was the nurse who attended to Richthofen after he received the head wound. There were several photographs (probably taken for propaganda purposes) in which she was shown with Richthofen, often together with a large group of other people. There was, however, never any evidence or even suggestion that there was a love affair between them.
Although this is a movie made in Germany it was actually spoken by all performers in the English language. This surprises many viewers who think it was originally spoken in German and dubbed into English later. However the developers were interested more in reaching the widest audience possible. They felt that the German viewership would be minimal and so it turned out. It is an interesting fact that even English actors in the movie such as Lena Headey who played a German nurse acted with a light German accent! Ms Headey will be remembered for her later starring role in Game of Thrones. She was born in Bermuda her father being British and stationed there at the time
Werner Voss was assigned to fighter squadron 2 in November 1916. This is where he befriended the red baron AND flew as his wing man. They also exchanged home visits.