DMX was originally signed to play Terrell Singletery, but unfortunately was handed a prison sentence. DMX was quoted in FHM "I'd have rather gone to prison anyway".
In an interview with Crave Online, Don Wilson claims he not only worked on and pitched the script with director Sheldon Lettich, but was also set to star. Wilson states that he had been searching for a producer to finance the film when he called Lettich months later and found out that not only had his role been recast with Jean-Claude Van Damme, but filming was nearly complete.
Razaaq Adoti (who plays the character Wayne Barclay) had a hand in writing the lyrics to the movie song The Hard Corps and sings some of the vocals.
This is the fourth Jean-Claude Van Damme movie that was directed by Sheldon Lettich. The three previously were Leão Branco, o Lutador sem Lei (1990), Duplo impacto (1991), and A Irmandade (2001).