Walter Hill, who replaced
Geoffrey Wright as director, only had two months to prepare and re-write the script before principle photography was planned, as the studio wanted filming done before an imminent Screen Actors Guild strike was to start later that year (it was later averted). However, Hill clashed over his script with the studio, who cut the budget halfway through shooting. Furthermore, due to special effects house Digital Domain considering a partnership with MGM, production was supposed to get a discount on the special effects, but when that deal fell through, they had to pay for "the full spa treatment", and about half of the planned shots had to be scrapped. Hill also disagreed with MGN on their decision to screen his first cut without many of the effects shots for a test audience (which, as he predicted, was a disaster), and their refusal to allow for additional filming (which had to be done anyway after Hill walked out). In an interview years after the release, Hill said that his version was much darker, had a very different setup and that the ending was much different from the final cut. He also expressed strong dislike for the way the studio ruined the movie but said that
James Spader did a great job with his role.
