Trivia

RZA and Eli Roth worked on the screenplay together over two years, talking through every aspect of the story, down to the detail of every weapon.

The first cut of the film was four hours long. RZA suggested splitting it into two films, but producer Eli Roth disagreed, and it was ultimately cut down to approximately 90 minutes.

The character was partly inspired by RZA's late cousin Ol' Dirty Bastard. Crowe based his performance on Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry (1971) and The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976). Crowe agreed to join the cast because of his previous working relationship with RZA. Crowe was only able to spend 10 days filming his scenes.

Russell Crowe agreed to do the movie in return for RZA giving some rap lessons to the South Sydney Rabbitohs, a rugby league team he co-owns.

Byron Mann was initially intended for the role of Poison Dagger, but when the actor who was to play Silver Lion dropped out of the production shortly before shooting, Mann was recast. Many of Silver Lion's attributes, including his psychopathic nature, were originally developed by Mann for the other role.