(29 October 2002) A stuntman was killed filming a parachuting scene near Oceano, California. Jumping with eight other skydivers from 14,000 feet, the man was supposed to land on the beach, but actually landed about 300 yards offshore and drowned.
The title of this movie was the subtitle for a Die Hard 4 project the studio was making. The project needed work and Bruce Willis told the studio he would commit to Die Hard 4.0 (now Live Free or Die Hard) if he could use the title for this movie.
During principal photography, all actors who played Navy SEAL characters were required to refer to each other by their characters' names, even off camera, so as to improve interaction among the seals.
Tensions between director Antoine Fuqua and Bruce Willis emerged soon after principle photography began, ending with each vowing never to work with the other again.
Kevin Smith was originally cast to co-star with Bruce Willis as a supporting SEAL team member. Tragically, he died from head injuries sustained from a three story prop tower fall, after his last film Warriors of Virtue 2: Return to Tao wrapped.
The story is based on a mission of the Canadian Joint Task Force Two (JTF2) that took place in Colombia. An ex-member of the commando wrote the original story and suggested it when he met the production team of Executive Decision on a set in Nevada.
While filming aboard the USS Truman in 2002, ship's personnel were used for the uncredited roles of embassy staff evacuees. The casting director had a hard time finding "older" people for the portrayals of embassy staff. Among those cast as embassy staff personnel was the USS Truman's Senior Medical Officer.