Author Robert Sellers in his book 'What Fresh Lunacy is This?: The Authorized Biography of Oliver Reed' (2012) wrote: "Of all the roles he would play in his career, many people have commented upon the fact that Gerald Kingsland in 'Castaway' was perhaps the closest to the real Oliver Reed."
Of this film, in an interview published by 'Surrey Live' on 16th November 2011, lead actress Amanda Donohoe said: "Well, naked on a desert island with Oliver Reed - it was a tabloid fantasy, wasn't it?. He was an alcoholic and his behaviour was erratic, but he was always a courteous and good actor. His personal life wasn't working but he never crossed any lines professionally.''
When asked, 'What did you think of the film?', source authoress Lucy Irvine said on her website: ''The director, Nicolas Roeg, was completely honest with me even before he started making the film. He took me out to lunch and explained that the island was the perfect 'vehicle' for something he'd been wanting to make a film about for years - the relationship between an older man and a younger woman. It was never intended to be exactly like my book. I understood this so [one] was able to watch the film without feeling too involved personally. It is an unusual film and I reckon Amanda Donohoe played a difficult part very well. Oliver Reed was great too, although I wouldn't say it was his best film. Roeg fans should definitely see it.''
UK singer Kate Bush was initially asked to star in the film, but she was put-off by the thought of running around stark naked the entire film. Instead she provided a song.