In an interview with Piers Morgan, former President Jimmy Carter said that he believes the film was a "great drama", and it deserved to win an Oscar for best film. However, Carter noted that although "ninety percent of the contributions to the ideas, and the consummation of the plan was Canadian", the film "gives almost full credit to the American C.I.A. With that exception, the movie's very good," Carter said, but "the main hero, in my opinion, was Ken Taylor, who was the Canadian ambassador, who orchestrated the entire process."
In the movie, it was stated that both the British and New Zealand embassies in Tehran turned away the six American diplomats, leaving the Canadians as their only refuge. In fact, the British embassy did shelter the six for a few days, but it was agreed by everyone that the Canadian embassy would be more secure and suitable, so they moved. A New Zealand official transported them, and the British also helped other Americans trapped in the country at the time. Ben Affleck acknowledged that he intentionally deviated from the real events, in order to quicken the pace, and build up the tension.
For the opening scene, the director of photography gave 8mm cameras out to certain people in the crowd to make the opening scene have what would seem like this was actual footage from the riot.
Ben Affleck, a longtime Led Zeppelin fan, admits he was desperate to use the track "When the Levee Breaks" (from "Led Zeppelin IV") and vigorously pursued the rockers to win permission, but they asked him to make a very specific change. The scene was originally shot with Tate Donovan placing the record needle on the beginning of the album, which was wrong: "When the Levee Breaks" is actually the last song on the second side of the album. Affleck agreed to make the change, and he headed back to the editing suite in order to make the band happy. He later told the Los Angeles Times he appreciated the band's attention to detail, despite having to pay for another shoot.
Ben Affleck has stated that the production was granted unprecedented access to CIA Headquarters, both for interiors and exteriors, and that the gratitude for that privilege belongs to Tony Mendez, the retired CIA officer portrayed by Affleck in the film.
Tony Mendez: Passing by behind Ben Affleck with his family, when Tony is dropped off at the airport to fly to Tehran.
Bob Anders: At the ceremony in Canada to welcome the house guests back home, the real Bob Anders can be seen holding a sign that reads "WELCOME HOME!! BOB ANDERS".
Rafi Pitts: Appears as the Iranian Consulate Official. He was also Ben Affleck 's personal consultant on the film.