Billy Bob Thornton was offered the part of Abe but was unavailable. Bill Paxton turned the part down. Gary Cole auditioned and was offered the part but he could not fit it into his schedule. Christopher McDonald was cast in the role the night before filming started. While McDonald was on the set, he discovered that he could not fit it into his schedule. The role was then offered to Christopher Lloyd but he turned it down to do Haunted Lighthouse (2003). The role was finally given to William Sadler, who arrived on set and had only 60 minutes to meet and form a relationship with Shia LaBeouf before their big emotional scene together.
Shaker Heights, Ohio, is a suburb of Cleveland.
During the battle sequence in the opening, the actors playing the German soldiers, including Shia LaBeouf, took German lessons prior to filming.